On 16 December 2020, during its winter session, the Conference of INGOs organised a debate on "Access to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers by NGOs". The debate was based on the preliminary findings on concrete situations after consultations within civil society groups in Greece. Topics of discussion between representatives of the grassroot civil organisations and of the Council of Experts on NGO Law of the Conference of INGOs included the Greek legislation on the registration and certification of Greek and foreign NGOs, the work of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture or the Migration Committee (CPT), and a presentation of the Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation and Resolution on the "Rights and Obligations of NGOs assisting refugees and migrants in Europe". The participants were able to show relevance of the issue through the respect of human rights as well as the commitment to the Rule of Law and Democracy, and they underlined the importance of the NGOs humanitarian work and their access to the migrant population.
Newsletter - January 2021
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.
- The Special Representative on Migration and Refugees to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Chamber judgments: Expulsions from Russia and Denmark, and detention conditions in Greece
- Observations on summary returns of migrants from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina
- GRETA publishes its third report on Croatia
- Activities of PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
- Ensuring equitable access to vaccination during the current and future pandemics
- Debate on access to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers by NGOs