Migration

The situation of migrants in Europe has deteriorated, marked by push-backs, deaths, poor reception conditions and restrictive policies. The Commissioner focuses on improving the rights of migrants in line with states’ obligations under human rights law, including access to asylum and essential services.

Refrain from actions in externalised migration policies that may lead to human rights violations

 “External co-operation on asylum and migration needs to be designed and implemented with great care, so as not to put human rights at risk. Governments developing externalisation policies in this field should carefully assess their potential negative impact on human rights, as such policies can expose women, men and children to significant risks of serious harm and protracted suffering”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, while releasing a new report on externalisation policies already implemented or being negotiated across Europe.   full article

Externalised asylum and migration policies and human rights law (2025)

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Protecting the Defenders: Ending repression of human rights defenders assisting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Europe (2024)

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Pushed beyond the limits: Four areas of urgent action to end human rights violations at Europe's borders (2022)

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A distress call for human rights. The widening gap in migrant
protection in the Mediterranean (2021)

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Lives saved. Rights protected. (2019)

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Realising the right to family reunification of refugees in Europe (2017)

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