On 4-5 December 2019, Council of Europe´s drug policy experts, the Pompidou Group, organised a Preparatory Working Group Meeting “Responding to Drug-Related Challenges for Refugees, Migrants & IDPs” at the Council of Europe premises in Strasbourg. The working group brought together experts from Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Italy Portugal, Slovak Republic and Spain, coming from law enforcement, health and social field, migration and asylum services and civil society organisations. They agreed on developing a Handbook for professionals as well as guidelines and a policy paper by the end of 2021. The upcoming materials aim to address drug related challenges including access to health care, harm reduction approaches, prevention and treatment interventions and double stigma.
Newsletter - January 2020
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.
- Border protection and the rights of young refugees and children in focus
- Spain did not breach the Convention when returning migrants to Morocco at Melilla border
- PACE to discuss violence and discrimination against religious minorities
- New study on gender-based asylum claims and non-refoulement
- Launch of toolkit on academic integration of refugees into higher education
- Taking young refugees seriously: key messages from the conference
- North-South Prize 2019 honours the efforts to support the integration of migrants