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SRSG on Migration and Refugees: We must be prepared for more climate refugees
The Special Representative, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, participated today in the World Forum for Democracy discussion on "Disasters, displacement and climate change". “There is no doubt that climate change is one of the biggest challenges for human mankind. Climate change can result in...
The Special Representative on Migration and Refugees to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, will be conducting a mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 24 to 30 January 2021. He is planning to visit reception facilities Miral, Sedra, Borici, Emergency Tent Camp Lipa in Una-Sana...
SRSG Štefánek hosted 2nd meeting of Focal Points Network on migration
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, hosted the second meeting of the Focal Points Network, composed of some 40 members from relevant ministries dealing with migration issues at national level. “This Network is a good...
Special Representative on Migration and Refugees addresses UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Drahoslav Štefánek, has represented the Council of Europe at the 71st session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme in Geneva. In his speech, he emphasised that the Council of Europe is...
EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: a renewed opportunity to uphold human rights in migration governance
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees of the Council of Europe and the Regional Representative for Europe of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) welcome today’s presentation by the European Commission of its new Pact on Migration and Asylum. The launch of...
Launch of handbook on Family reunification for refugee and migrant children
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, is today launching the handbook “Family reunification for refugee and migrant children - standards and promising practices”. The handbook focuses on the reunification of families with...
Save the date: Webinar to launch the publication “Family reunification for refugee and migrant children: standards and promising practices”
Webinar organised by Council of Europe Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, on Thursday, 2 July 2020, 9.30 – 12.00. The aim of the event is to discuss ongoing challenges for family reunion throughout Europe, for frontline...
Alternatives to immigration detention: Council of Europe and UNHCR launch new course
Ahead of World Refugee Day on 20 June, the Council of Europe is launching a HELP/UNHCR free online course on Alternatives to Immigration Detention with the aim of supporting legal and other professionals working on migration. While the interest in managing migration without depriving people of...
Fundamental rights of refugees and migrants at European borders
Joint publication from Council of Europe and Fundamental Rights Agency (EU) The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees of the Council of Europe, together with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) have published a note on the main fundamental rights...
Migration and refugees: Council of Europe presents achievements and sets out new objectives
In a report published today, the Council of Europe takes stock of achievements and sets out new objectives in protecting vulnerable migrants and refugees, including children. “The Council of Europe will continue to play a key role in the protection and promotion of human rights of the most...
Drahoslav Štefánek: new Special Representative for Migration and Refugees
Today, on the occasion of International Migrants Day, the Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić announced the appointment of Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek as her new Special Representative on migration and refugees. The Council of Europe has followed the situation of refugees and migrants...
Council of Europe participates in the first Global Refugee Forum in Geneva
Today, on the occasion of the first Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, the Council of Europe highlighted areas where it can provide an added value, namely in the sphere of protection of the human rights of refugees. Representing the Council of Europe at the Global Refugee Forum, the...
Promoting child-friendly approaches in the area of migration: standards, guidance and current practices
On 9 December 2019, the Office of the Special Representative on migration and refugees is launching the publication “Promoting child-friendly approaches in the area of migration: standards, guidance and current practices”. The launch event is organized jointly with Council of Europe office in...
First meeting of focal points dealing with migration issues at national level
Representatives of relevant ministries from 25 Council of Europe member states gathered in Strasbourg on 28-29 November 2019 for a two-day meeting to discuss human rights challenges in the field of migration. Organised by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on...
Council of Europe-UNHCR seminar on protecting refugee and migrant children in Portugal
Key stakeholders from the Council of Europe, UNHCR (the United Nation’s refugee agency) and national experts from Portugal gathered in Lisbon this morning for the start of a seminar to discuss the “Effective Protection of Refugee and Migrant Children in Portugal”. The two-day event, organised...
The Secretary General’s Special Representative on migration and refugees, Tomáš Boček, completes his mandate
Today, 30 April 2019, Ambassador Tomáš Boček completes his mandate as the Secretary General’s Special Representative on migration and refugees. Since his appointment in January 2016, Tomáš has contributed extensively to the Council of Europe’s visibility in the field of migration with regular...
Two Western Balkan countries still struggle with migration flows but face different challenges
Commending Bosnia and Herzegovina in its effort to provide shelter and basic services to the high number of arrivals of migrants and refugees, the Secretary General’s Special Representative on migration and refugees Tomáš Boček, stressed in a report published today, that access to asylum...
Young refugees should receive additional temporary support after the age of 18, recommends the Committee of Ministers
Recommendation of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers to member states
Integration policies should not pursue migration-control goals
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on migration and refugees Tomáš Boček has published an Issue Paper on human rights aspects of immigrant and refugee integration policies based on a comparative assessment of 11 Council of Europe member states. The Issue Paper focuses on specific...
Alternatives to the detention of migrants: how we can make it work
A variety of concrete examples and practices of alternatives to the detention of migrants from different corners of Europe were presented to some 200 participants at an International conference on Effective Alternatives to the Detention of Migrants, organised jointly by the Council of Europe, the...
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