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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...
The Special Representative addressed the assessment of migrants’ qualifications and alternatives to immigration detention
The Special Representative on Migration and Refugees, Drahoslav Štefánek, was invited to Belgrade for two migration-related meetings: an briefing session on the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR) and to the “Regional Conference on Alternatives to Immigration Detention in the...
Council of Europe and EU Agency for Fundamental Rights publish a new joint Note on standards for migrants, asylum applicants and refugees to effective remedies at European borders
The Council of Europe and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) are publishing today a joint Note entitled “European standards on legal remedies, complaints mechanisms and effective investigations at borders”. In an effort to join forces in the protection of human rights at European borders,...
SRSG on Migration and Refugees publishes report on his mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek is today publishing a report on his fact-finding mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of the mission was to provide a picture of the current situation of migrants, refugees and...
SRSG Štefánek hosted the 3rd 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 3rd meeting of the Network of Focal Points on Migration. More than 40 participants from relevant ministries dealing with migration issues at national level got together...
World Refugee Day: Council of Europe and EU Agency for Fundamental Rights to work closely together on protecting rights at borders
On World Refugee Day on 20 June, the Council of Europe and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) are joining forces to strengthen their cooperation on human rights protection at the European borders. As a follow-up to the previous joint Note ‘Fundamental rights of refugees, asylum applicants...
Migrant and Refugee Children: The Council of Europe launches its first regional human rights training for legal professionals and child protection services in the Balkans
The Council of Europe launched today its first ever regional HELP online course on “Refugee and Migrant Children” in the Western Balkans, in co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the EU´s European Asylum Support Office (EASO), hosted by the Council of...
Save the date: launch event of the regional HELP online course on “Refugee and migrant children” in the Western Balkans
The launch event is hosted by the Office of the Council of Europe in Sarajevo and will be livestreamed on Tuesday 25 May 2021 from 2.30 to 5.30pm, CEST. This event, addressed to justice professionals and child protection services from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North...
Migration and asylum: Council of Europe to increase protection of vulnerable persons
The Committee of Ministers have adopted an Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025). “Migrants and asylum seekers face particular challenges, in the Covid-19 pandemic, notably access to healthcare and vaccinations. We are increasing...
Asylum and Human Rights: Council of Europe and UNHCR launch new HELP online course
The protection of refugees has been a priority for many years now in Europe. Despite the progress made, there are still significant gaps in both law and practice. A fully updated version of the HELP/UNHCR online course on "Asylum and Human Rights" is now available on the HELP e-learning platform...
Publication on child-friendly approaches in migration: Launch of Turkish language version
16 March 2021, today in Ankara, on the occasion of his visit to Turkey, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, (SRSG), is launching a Turkish version of the publication “Promoting child-friendly approaches in the area of...
Special Representative on Migration and Refugees to visit Turkey
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, will visit Turkey from 15 to 26 March 2021. He will assess the current situation and developments since the last visit carried out by the former SRSG in 2016 concerning respect for...
SRSG on Migration and Refugees: Equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all migrants
All migrants should be included in COVID-19 vaccination programmes regardless of their nationality and migration status, human rights experts from the UN, African, European and Inter-American human rights systems urge in a Guidance Note published today. The experts stress that vaccine...
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...
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