On 4 April 2019, the Special Representative, together with the Council of Europe Human Rights Policy and Co-operation Department, the European Commission, and the European Migration Network, organises the international conference “Effective Alternatives to the Detention of Migrants. The Special Representative has created a new web page for this purpose, where all information is gathered on the event, including the concept note and the programme. Participants are invited to register online by 20 March 2019 at the latest.
On 7 March 2019, the First Deputy Director of ODIHR, Ms Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, met with the SRSG to discuss possible closer co-operation between ODIHR and the Council of Europe. Topics of discussion included, among others, the integration of refugees and good practices and initiatives on local level.
On 1 March 2019, the SRSG participated in the Human Rights Education Programme for Turkish students, organised by the Turkish Governmental Agency for Turks Abroad, and discussed the current migration challenges Europe is facing.
From 19 to 20 February 2019 in Istanbul Turkey, Jeroen Schokkenbroek, Director of the Council of Europe Directorate of Anti-Discrimination, and the Office of the Special Representative, participated in the 6th Budapest Process Ministerial Conference “The Istanbul Commitments on the Silk Routes Partnership for Migration”. In his intervention he stressed the central role of human rights standards in migration management and international co-operation and raised awareness on its relevant activities.
On 25 and 26 February 2019, the SRSG’s office participated in the Round Table “Strengthening the Foundation for Community-based Refugee Sponsorship in Europe” organised by the Migration Policy Institute Europe, the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative in collaboration with European Asylum Support Office. The Round Table took stock of experimental and first experiences with refugee sponsorship in some European countries and discussed how to build more sustainable and scalable sponsorship programmes.