Further strengthening the protection of refugees, in particular women and children in a vulnerable situation, was the main focus of a round table discussion on “Strengthening the protection of children and victims of gender-based violence, in the context of refugee flows in Romania”, co-organised by the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The round table was a follow-up to the report of the fact-finding mission to Romania carried out by SRSG Leyla Kayacik from 12 to 14 December 2022.
In her opening remarks, the Special Representative praised the solidarity shown by the Romanian authorities, civil society and individuals towards people fleeing Ukraine and underlined the importance of co-operation between international organisations, such as that between the Council of Europe and the UNHCR.
"Given the current challenges faced by our member states, it is crucial that international organisations continue joining forces to support the relevant authorities in strengthening the protection of people in vulnerable situations, in particular children and victims of gender-based violence," said SRSG Kayacik.
In addition to representatives of the Council of Europe and the United Nations, the event brought together Romanian officials, representatives of non-governmental organisations and legal experts.
The discussion focused on the findings contained in the SRSG’s report and the actions to be taken in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025).
Participants were updated on the European Court of Human Rights case law on vulnerability and children, as well as on the existing international and European standards and national measures taken to protect children and victims of gender-based violence in the context of migration and asylum.
