[24/09/2009] On 26th of September, Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, took part in the launching of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of CIMADE – one of the French leading NGO on migrants and refugees' rights.
The event was organised by CIMADE at the "Palais Universitaire" in Strasbourg. It consisted of three round tables which discussed migration movements across Europe and debated on present European migration policies. In particular, the closing round table focused on ways and modalities to build a European space which respects the values of justice, peace and cohesion and strengthens the protection of migrants' rights.
The Commissioner took part in this round table together with international personalities such as Michel Rocard, former French Prime Minister, Antoine Pécoud, UNESCO specialist on migration and multicultural policies, Bassirou Diarra, advisor to the Presidency of Mali, Catherine Trautmann, former French Minister and member of the European Parliament and Lorena Escudero, Ecuador's Secretary of State for Migration.
"Civil society has a crucial role in the protection of migrants' rights. CIMADE is one of those associations whose dedication to migrants must be acknowledged and supported" said the