News

SRSG on Migration and Refugees to visit Poland
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG) Leyla Kayacik will visit Poland from 30 May to 3 June in order to determine how vulnerable people fleeing Ukraine can be further protected. The Special Representative will explore how best the Council of Europe...
Protecting rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls: Council of Europe recommendation adopted
The Committee of Ministers, meeting in Turin, has adopted a new recommendation to protect the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls providing measures to better respond to needs and challenges that they face. Drawing on Council of Europe treaties including the Istanbul...
Slovak Republic, Czech Republic commended for their efforts – Council of Europe offers targeted support to persons in a vulnerable situation fleeing Ukraine
After completing her fact-finding visit to the Slovak Republic (2-4 May 2022) and Czech Republic, (4-6 May 2022), the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik, commended the efforts made by both countries in hosting a large number of people fleeing Ukraine, mostly...
SRSG on Migration and Refugees to visit the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik, will visit the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic from 2 to 6 May 2022. The aim of the visit is to follow-up on the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Europe´s Network on Focal Points on...
Council of Europe assesses measures taken by states to protect children on the move from sexual abuse and exploitation
With Europe facing the second major refugee crisis in less than a decade, the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee has published ten compliance reports evaluating legislation, services and other measures in place for the protection of children affected by the refugee crisis from sexual...
Refugees fleeing Ukraine: exchange of information with international partners
The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on migration and refugees organised today an online meeting with representatives of UNHCR, IOM, UNICEF, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA),...
Italian Presidency and Council of Europe joint Event on age assessment of unaccompanied migrant children
The event “Age assessment of unaccompanied migrant children: promoting a human rights and multidisciplinary approach” is organised jointly by Italy’s National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP) and the Office of the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees of the Secretary...
Launch of an international call for tenders to draw up a list of consultants in the areas of migration and asylum
The Council of Europe has launched a consultation procedure aimed at setting up a pool of experts for the provision of consultancy services in the areas of migration and asylum. The list will facilitate and support the Organisation´s activities implementing the Council of Europe Action Plan on...
The Special Representative convened an extraordinary meeting of the Network of Focal Points on Migration regarding the situation of people fleeing Ukraine
The Special Representative on Migration and Refugees, Ms Leyla Kayacik, convened today an extraordinary online meeting of the Council of Europe Network of Focal Points on Migration to gather information on the situation of the civilian population fleeing from Ukraine to neighbouring countries,...
The Special Representative travels to Brussels to present her priorities and exchange views on refugees and migration related developments with EU and other partners
On 7-8 March 2022, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ms Leyla Kayacik, is visiting Brussels. Meetings are scheduled with representatives of the European Union: Johannes Luchner, Deputy Director General in charge of Horizontal Affairs & Migration,...
New Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees
On the occasion of International Migrants Day (18 December), the Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has announced the appointment of Leyla Kayacik as her new Special Representative on migration and refugees. The announcement comes at a time when migration-related challenges are prominent...
SRSG on Migration and Refugees addressed the UNHCR High Level Officials Meeting
Today, the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, addressed the UNHCR High-Level Officials Meeting (14-15 December 2021) on behalf of the Council of Europe. The aim of the meeting is to monitor progress on the implementation of the Global Compact on...
SRSG on Migration and Refugees publishes report on his mission to Turkey
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, published today a report on his mission to Turkey. The aim of the mission was to provide a picture of the situation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and developments since the...
SRSG Ambassador Štefánek hosted the 4th meeting of the Network of Focal Points on Migration
Today, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, hosted the 4th meeting of the Network of Focal Points on Migration. The meeting, which takes place twice a year, gathered 48 participants from relevant ministries dealing with...
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Special Representative on Migration and Refugees welcomes opening of new Temporary Reception Centre LIPA
The Secretary General´s Special Representative on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, has welcomed the opening of the new Temporary Reception Centre LIPA in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The centre, which opened today, can host up to 1,500 migrants, including families with children...
Special Representative hosts FRONTEX team at Council of Europe
The Special Representative on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, is hosting the first visit of Frontex Fundamental Rights Officer (FRO), Jonas Grimheden, to the Council of Europe. Mr Grimheden is accompanied by a team of Fundamental Rights Monitors. The visit, from 8-10...
The Special Representative addressed the 41st Congress session
Today, the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees of Council of Europe Secretary General, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, addressed the 41st session of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. The challenges related to migration issues were discussed during two debates: "Regions and...
Special Representative addressed the UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Drahoslav Štefánek, represented the Council of Europe at the 72nd session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme in Geneva. As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Convention relating to...
Webinar on migration and asylum: Council of Europe standards and channels for practical co-operation with Croatia
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe for Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, today hosted a webinar with Terezija Gras, State Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Croatia. The aim of the webinar was to address Council of Europe standards,...
Statelessness and the right to a nationality in Europe
Strengthening efforts to end statelessness in Europe and guarantee the provision of fundamental rights to everyone was the key theme of the events organised on 23-24 September in Strasbourg by the Council of Europe’s European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee...