Looking tough on migration is eroding human rights
Politico, 06 March 2024 Curtailing migrant rights may help score quick political gains, but electoral success doesn’t give governments carte blanche to place themselves above the law. The upcoming adoption of the United Kingdom’s Safety of Rwanda Bill, currently working its way through the House...
Country visit report
Italy should improve legislation and practice on migration and asylum, women’s rights and gender equality
In a report published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, recommends adopting a number of measures to better uphold the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and women. The Commissioner also raises certain issues concerning journalists and the legal...
Country visit report
Denmark: refocus on protection and integration in asylum policy and step up measures to improve the situation of persons with disabilities
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report on her visit to Denmark in May-June 2023, with recommendations on the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants and the rights of persons with disabilities. There have been several positive...
Letter
Pylos shipwreck: the Greek authorities must ensure that effective investigations are conducted
In a letter to the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, stresses that Greece has the legal obligation to conduct effective investigations into the Pylos shipwreck, which resulted in the death of more...
Letter
Ireland: Secure dignified accommodation for all refugees and asylum seekers through a government-wide approach
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Ireland, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, published today, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović raises concerns about the...
Country visit report
Spain: address housing and health inequalities, safeguard freedoms of expression and assembly and provide safe and legal access to the territory for people seeking asylum
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović published today the report on her visit to Spain carried out in November 2022, with recommendations on social rights, in particular the right to housing and the right to health, the freedoms of expression and assembly and the human...
Letter
Commissioner calls on Belgium to ensure accommodation and material assistance for asylum seekers
In her letter addressed to Belgium’s State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole De Moor, published today, the Commissioner expresses her concerns about the current situation of individuals seeking international protection in Belgium. A lack of available accommodation in reception facilities...
Letter
The Netherlands must take urgent measures to improve reception conditions for asylum seekers
In a letter addressed to the Dutch Minister for Migration published today, Commissioner Mijatović expresses her concern about asylum reception conditions in the Netherlands. The Commissioner’s letter follows a further worsening of the situation, especially at the Ter Apel registration centre,...
Letter
Finland: amendments to Border Guard Act must be accompanied by clear human rights safeguards
In a letter addressed to the Finnish Minister of Interior, published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, called for clear safeguards to ensure that recently adopted amendments to the Border Guard Act would not lead to human rights violations. Under the...
Letter
Commissioner calls on Spanish authorities to investigate the circumstances of the deaths and violence at Melilla border
In a letter addressed to the Spanish Minister of the Interior published today, Commissioner Mijatović urges the authorities to conduct an independent, full and effective investigation into the events leading to the deaths of more than 20 migrants who attempted to cross the fence between Nador,...
Letter
Hungary: establish a fair and effective asylum system
In a letter addressed to the Hungarian Minister of the Interior published today, Commissioner Mijatović expresses her appreciation for the country’s open border policy for those fleeing Ukraine but raises concerns about the longer-term protection perspective of third country nationals and...
Country visit report
Austria: improve reception and integration of migrants and protection of women’s rights
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report following her visit to Austria carried out in December 2021, with recommendations on improving the reception and integration of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants and on strengthening women’s...
Letter
Spain: the review of the 2015 Law on Citizens' Safety should result in better protecting human rights
In a letter published today, the Commissioner calls on the Parliament of Spain to ensure that the review of the 2015 Law on Citizens’ Safety is used as an opportunity to bring it fully in line with European and international human rights standards, in particular as concerns the provisions...
Letter
Greek authorities should investigate allegations of pushbacks and ill-treatment of migrants, ensure an enabling environment for NGOs and improve reception conditions
In a letter addressed to the Minister for Citizens’ Protection, the Minister of Migration and Asylum, and the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy of Greece, made public today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, urges the Greek authorities to put an end to...
Letter
Bosnia and Herzegovina must urgently improve its migrant reception capacities, improve access to asylum and protect unaccompanied migrant children
In a letter published today, the Commissioner calls on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to address the persistent shortcomings in their handling of migrants and asylum seekers. The letter was addressed to Mr Zoran Tegeltija, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina,...
Letter
Commissioner seeks information from the Greek government on its plans to set-up closed reception centres on the Aegean islands
Today the Commissioner published an exchange of letters with the Minister of Citizen Protection of Greece, Michalis Chrysochoidis, and the Alternate Minister for Migration Policy of Greece, Giorgos Koumoutsakos, concerning the plans to transfer migrants from the Aegean islands to the mainland and...
Letter
Commissioner urges German Parliament to increase the human rights safeguards of the bill for improving the implementation of expulsion of migrants
Today the Commissioner published a letter she addressed to the Chairwoman of the Committee on Internal Affairs and Community of the Parliament of Germany, Andrea Lindholz, in which she raises concerns about some aspects of the bill that aims at facilitating removals of people obliged to leave the...
Country visit report
Greece should safeguard social rights for all and improve the reception and integration of migrants
“Greece should take urgent steps and adopt long-term policies to improve the reception and integration of migrants and to reverse the adverse effects of austerity measures on access to health care and education”, says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing...
Letter
Commissioner calls on Croatia to investigate allegations of collective expulsions of migrants and of violence by law enforcement officers
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Croatia published today, Commissioner Mijatović raises concerns about allegations of collective expulsions of 2500 migrants since the beginning of 2018 and reported violence and other crimes allegedly committed by law enforcement officers. “The...
Letter
Malta urged to improve the protection and integration of migrants
In a letter addressed to the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security of Malta published today, Commissioner Muižnieks urges Malta to improve the protection and integration of migrants. Expressing appreciation for Malta’s policy changes to end the automatic detention of migrant and its...