From 29 January to 2 February 2018, a delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to Italy. The purpose of the visits was to assess progress in the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings since the first evaluation visit by GRETA in 2013, as well as developments since the publication of GRETA’s urgent procedure report in January 2017. GRETA visited shelters and drop-in centres for victims of trafficking, as well as an emergency reception centre (CAS) for asylum-seeking women.
On 29 January 2018, GRETA published its second evaluation report on Serbia, where it noted that the legal and institutional framework for combatting human trafficking in Serbia has evolved, but efforts should be stepped up to reduce children’s vulnerability to trafficking. Following the sharp increase in the number of refugees and migrants passing through Serbia in 2015-2016, there were an estimated 670 to 800 unaccompanied children in Serbia in March 2017, a number of whom were sleeping on the streets in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. GRETA urged the Serbian authorities to ensure that unaccompanied and separated children benefit from effective care arrangements, including safe and appropriate accommodation, and to guarantee the timely appointment of guardians.Newsletter - February 2018
Mandate
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) was created at the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DG1) on 1 February 2025 to follow-up on the action by the former Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees. Its mandate includes suggesting assistance and support to member states, particularly through the Network of Focal Points on Migration, seeking, collecting and analysing information on the human rights situation of migrants and refugees, as well as complementing and co-ordinating activities of other relevant Council of Europe bodies and our action with other international partners, notably the UNHCR, IOM, EU, and its specialised agencies, and other national, regional and international stakeholders, including civil society organisations. The DMR represents the Council of Europe in the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Selection Committee, as well as in the Consultative Forums of Frontex and of EUAA.
- Training on integration of migrants in Athens and exchange of views with the United Nations
- Recent rulings on expulsion-related cases, detention conditions and launch of fact-sheets
- Annual report, letter to Maltese authorities and collection of migration-related comments
- Sexual abuse of children: recommendations to Hungary
- GRETA visited Italy and published a report on Serbia
- Course on asylum seekers and the ECHR to professionals in Albania
