The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the 9th Plenary meeting of the Council of Europe’s Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) in Strasbourg (14-16 April 2026), bringing together member states, international organisations, civil society and experts to take stock and strengthen coordinated responses to the evolving realities faced by children affected by the war.
The discussions were structured around advancing concrete actions across CGU priority areas. This included strengthening accountability for crimes against children, including unlawful deportation and forcible transfer, and advancing co-operation with relevant stakeholders. Additionally, the methodology and progress for of the CGU Reference Group on Indoctrination, Re-education and Militarisation, coordinated with the strong support of Leiden University, were outlined.
Opening the exchange, Marja Ruotanen, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity of the Council of Europe, captured the urgency of the challenge noting that “this convergence of conflict, displacement and digitalisation creates a new risk landscape — one in which children are vulnerable not only to the immediate consequences of war, but also to forms of violence mediated through technology and increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.”
The Head of the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), Nikos Sitaropoulos, moderated the session on Transitioning Legal Protections in Europe which included two speakers from the European Commission and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. This session highlighted the importance and complexity of the Ukrainian displaced persons’ transitioning from temporary protection to other immigration statuses which is under way in a number of member states. DMR has focused on this issue during its mission to Poland in February 2026 (see report on mission) and will do so also in the forthcoming mission to Czechia (22-23 April 2026).
The exchanges served as a platform to align efforts, sharpen collective understanding, and identify priorities for coordinated, child-centred action.
