Newsletter - October 2025
Third International Conference on migrant smuggling: no country can face this rapidly evolving global crime alone
The third International Conference on migrant smuggling highlighted the importance of international cooperation and coordination between law enforcement, judicial authorities, and international partners, as well as the need to uphold human-rights standards in all actions to counter migrant...
Frequently Asked Questions: European Court of Human Rights and Migration
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees, has issued a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document explaining how the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) applies to migration-related issues. According to the document, applications concerning non-nationals represent only...
PACE publishes toolkit for parliamentarians on preventing and addressing migrant disappearances
Thousands of people die or disappear during migration journeys each year. Many others remain uncounted due to the lack of available data. How can national parliamentarians help prevent and respond to this human tragedy and serious human rights issue? A new PACE toolkit offers practical and...
Human Rights Commissioner's visit to Germany focused on migration
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to Germany from 13 – 17 October 2025, during which he focused on issues related to migration and asylum and on freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in the context of protests in relation to Gaza. He...
European Commission includes Council of Europe’s input in forthcoming EU asylum and migration management strategy
The European Commission is preparing its first five-year European asylum and migration management strategy, which is expected to be presented by the end of 2025. The strategy will set out a comprehensive and forward-looking vision for migration management across the EU, drawing on the national...
PACE Migration Committee meets in London: elects new rapporteurs and hears pupils with migration background
At its meeting in London on 20 – 21 October 2025, the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe elected three rapporteurs: Lord Michael German (United Kingdom, ALDE) as General Rapporteur on European migration and asylum...
AI can make migration management more efficient, humane and inclusive, says PACE
According to PACE, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in migration management must balance efficiency gains with protection of human rights “at all stages of the migration journey”. In adopting a resolution based on the report by Petri Honkonen (Finland, ALDE), PACE proposed a set of...
Migration management through Artificial Intelligence: Human Rights implications presented at the Lisbon Forum
The 30th edition of the Lisbon Forum took place on 28–29 October 2025 under the theme: “AI and Global Governance: Rights, Representativity, and Readiness.” Building on the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law — the world’s first...
Round table highlights migration as strategic response to ageing societies
In the lead-up to the implementation of PACE Resolution 2586 (2025) on “Immigration as a Strategic Response to Demographic Ageing”, the Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons held a high-level round table in London on 21 October 2025. The event brought...
Congress initiates dialogue on local solutions to transnational repression against Belarusians in exile
On 29 October, on the sidelines of its 49th session, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities organised the side event “When passports become weapons: Local authorities’ response to transnational repression against Belarusians abroad”. The objective was to initiate a process towards the...
ECRI publishes its latest country reports on Spain, Slovenia, Romania, Montenegro, Ireland and Finland
In October 2025, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published sixth-cycle monitoring reports on six member states. The reports acknowledge progress in several areas in the countries concerned, while also identifying structural gaps and issuing recommendations to...
CPT conducts ad hoc visits to the Netherlands and France
From 6 to 17 October, a CPT delegation conducted an ad hoc visit to the Netherlands to assess the situation in facilities in which foreign nationals are detained under either administrative or penal legislation. To this end, the delegation visited the detention centres in Schiphol and Rotterdam,...
New survey highlights impact of European Qualifications Passport for Refugees
In an era of global displacement, recognising the talents of refugees is both a moral and educational imperative – and one that requires concrete, coordinated action across Europe. The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR), developed by the Council of Europe’s Education Department,...
New Council of Europe guide to help national authorities protect migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls
The Council of Europe has published a practical Guide designed to support public authorities in implementing Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)17 on protecting the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls. Developed as an awareness-raising and implementation tool, the Guide supports...
Council of Europe field offices and migration-related activities
Chisinau: On 15 October 2025, more than 40 legal and migration professionals, including judges, prosecutors, lawyers and employees of the General Inspectorate for Migration attended the Launch event of the Council of Europe HELP course on “Refugee and Migrant Children”. The course provides an...
Compass training course "For action: Human Rights Passwords"
From 27 to 31 October 2025, the Compass National Training Course on Human Rights Education “For Action: Human Rights Passwords” was held at Stratford Youth Zone in the London Borough of Newham. The course was designed to support the implementation of human rights education (HRE) and education for...