A delegation of the Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the UNHCR Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review meeting held in Geneva.

During the meeting, the Head of the DMR, Nikos Sitaropoulos, updated participants on the Council of Europe’s implementation of its pledges on intercultural inclusion strategies and on the protection of refugee women and girls.

He underlined that the Council of Europe remains fully committed to supporting its member states and partners in building cohesive, democratic societies that draw strength from diversity, stressing that intercultural inclusion and multilevel approaches are not only compatible with migration management but indispensable to it. 

In a separate intervention, he highlighted the Organisation’s continued commitment to supporting member states in protecting the rights of refugee women and girls, including victims of gender-based violence. He noted that this pledge is being implemented through the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum (2021–2025), the Istanbul Convention, and Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)17 on protecting the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls.

On the margins of the GRF Progress Review meeting, the DMR delegation met with UNHCR Director for Europe Philippe Leclerc, as well as with representatives of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).