Newsletter - March 2026
How refugee status may end in a human rights-compliant manner – final edition of thematic paper
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees has released the final, graphically refreshed, edition of its thematic paper, Ensuring a Human Rights-Compliant End to Refugeehood through Integration, Naturalisation or Voluntary Repatriation, now also complemented by an executive...
Video and presentations now available: Webinar on vulnerability of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees under CoE and EU standards.
On 20 March, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University (Jean Monnet Chair), organised a webinar today focusing on the vulnerability of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of Council of Europe...
New report and video underline importance of fact-based communication on migration
In a newly released video, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), highlights the importance of evidence-based communication on migration: VIDEO. The DMR has also released the summary report of the first Roundtable on fact-based communication on migration, which brought...
Council of Europe updates document with soft law instruments on migration and asylum
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has updated its Reference document on non-binding legal instruments concerning migration and refugees, with the latest instruments adopted, including a new section dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and human rights...
Progress in implementing Council of Europe pledges under UN Global Compact on Refugees
On 31 March, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) organised the 23rd meeting of the Inter-secretariat Coordination Group on Migration (CGM), focusing on progress made by the Council of Europe in implementing its pledges under the Global Compact on Refugees. The meeting...
The impact of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls on democracy – in focus at the CSW side-event
In the margins of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York in March 2026, the Council of Europe co-organised a high-level side-event-on Policing the Pixel: Gender, Tech, and Justice together with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the United...
Third CDDH extraordinary meeting
The CDDH held a third and final extraordinary meeting from 10 to 12 March 2026. During this meeting, the CDDH adopted the outcome document containing elements for a political declaration and explanatory text, for transmission to the Committee of Ministers by the deadline of 22 March 2026. ...
Council of Europe Commissioner alerts to human rights risks in EU Returns Regulation
Ahead of the European Union adoption a new Regulation on the return of third-country nationals staying irregularly in the EU, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, said that the proposed framework risks undermining the human rights of migrants and asylum...
Helping Ukrainians return and rebuild: PACE rapporteur urges coordinated recovery efforts
In preparation of his report “Facilitating economic recovery and resilience of Ukraine: from voluntary returns to enhanced co‑operation and investment”, Mr Denis Begic (Sweden, SOC), Rapporteur for the Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation, set out his vision...
CGU's Advisory Group on the impact of war on children with disabilities holds its first meeting
The Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) held its first meeting of the Advisory Group on the Impact of war on children with disabilities online on 23 March 2026. The Advisory Group’s aim will aim to raise awareness of challenges affecting children with...
Lord German urges European lawmakers to uphold international law in migration policy
Lord Michael German (United Kingdom, ALDE), PACE General Rapporteur on European Migration and Asylum Policies, ending a series of meetings with officials from other international organisations dealing with migration, has urged European lawmakers to uphold international law in migration policy,...
Council of Europe adopts two new recommendations: on Equality and AI and on Accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls
On 4 March, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted two Recommendations addressing the intersection of technology with gender equality, non-discrimination and violence against women and girls, including migrant, refugee and asylum seeking women and girls. Recommendation...
ECRI publishes its country monitoring report on the Netherlands and conclusions on the implementation of its priority recommendations by Poland
On 3 March 2026, ECRI published its monitoring report on the Netherlands as part of the sixth monitoring cycle. In this report, ECRI welcomed that refugees no longer have to finance their language and integration courses. It also noted efforts taken by the authorities to improve their labour...
Compendium of promising practices on access to nationality for stateless children presented at UN in Geneva
The recently published Compendium of Promising Practices on Access to Nationality for Stateless Children, developed by the CDCJ was presented during a side event held at the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The event was co-organised by UNHCR and Child Identity...
Empowering civil society to improve access to justice in migration, environment, and women’s rights in Türkiye
Over 130 representatives from civil society organisations, bar associations, municipalities, public institutions, and international partners came together for the launch of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme, “Fostering Civil Society Participation and Capacity Building in...
New guidelines support improved gender-sensitive justice data collection in the Eastern Partnership region
New Guidelines on data collection practices relevant for women’s access to justice have been published to support authorities in the Eastern Partnership region in strengthening the collection and use of gender-sensitive justice data. The publication provides practical, evidence-based guidance for...
Pathways to end violence against women: advancing the Council of Europe's strategic response
Ending violence against women requires a systemic response. The Council of Europe's strategic triangle of standards, monitoring and cooperation turns principle into practice, which has a direct impact on migrant, refugee and asylum seeking women and girls. The Pathways Initiative provides expert...
New Council of Europe HELP Course on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls
A new HELP course on Technology-facilitated Violence against Women and Girls has been developed to address forms of violence enabled or exacerbated by digital technologies. This short course will supplement the HELP course on Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, released in 2017....
Exchange visit to Council of Alien Law Litigation in Brussels
On 26 March, an exchange visit was organised at the Council of Alien Law Litigation in Brussels, as part of the Joint European Union-Council of Europe Child-friendly Justice Project. The visit included Representatives from Belgium, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Slovenia, as well as from...
European Court of Human Rights ruling D.M. v. Sweden
On 26 March, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in the D.M. v. Sweden case, which concerned the applicant’s removal order from Sweden to Afghanistan following his unsuccessful applications for asylum. He complained that his removal would be in breach of Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention...
Safe third country concept: CDDH-PTS drafting group adopts draft study
The Drafting Group on the Safe Third Country Concept (CDDH-PTS) has successfully completed its mandate with the adoption of a draft study on the need for and the feasibility of updating Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation No. R(97)22, which provides guidelines on the application of the safe...
Immigration detention facilities in focus of CPT ad hoc visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out an ad hoc visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 17 to 27 March 2026, focusing on conditions in social care institutions and immigration detention facilities. The delegation...