Newsletter - September 2025
Commissioner for Human Rights calls on European states to 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...
Migrants bring benefits to Europe’s economies and societies, IOM official tells PACE
“Migration has long been a cornerstone of development and progress,” Arthur Erken, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told the Assembly’s Migration Committee during an exchange of views on the margins of the Assembly’s autumn...
Mission to Croatia focused on border monitoring and protection of migrant children
On 9 and 10 September the Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees and Department for the Execution of ECHR Judgments, carried out a joint mission to Croatia, with the support of the Government Agent of Croatia before the European Court. The visit focused on developments concerning...
CPT President visits Frontex
On Friday 26 September, the President of the CPT, Alan Mitchell, and the CPT’s Executive Secretary, Hugh Chetwynd, met the Executive Director of Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency), Hans Leijtens and members of the Frontex senior management team, for an exchange of views on...
GREVIO: Strengthening protection for women victims of violence in France
In its first thematic report on France’s implementation of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (“Istanbul Convention”), the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts (GREVIO) has welcomed the efforts made by the authorities and recommended measures...
ECtHR rules in favour of NGOs protecting migrant rights
In the case Ilareva and Others v. Bulgaria, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of the Bulgarian nationals Valeria Ilareva, Lidia Staykova, and Krasimir Kanev, who are involved in non-governmental organisations working for the protection of minority and migrant rights. The case...
CDCJ Finalises draft Compendium on children’s legal rights in nationality and statelessness procedures
The CDCJ Limited Working Group on Migration (CDCJ-MIG) held its 4th meeting (29 September-1 October) where it finalised a draft compendium on promising practices in respect of legal aid and representation, access to information and to justice for children in procedures relating to the...
Young refugees’ journey to adulthood
From 15 to 19 September, youth workers from various Council of Europe member states engaged in discussions around young refugees’ journeys to adulthood. These important conversations and exchanges of experience took place during a study session jointly organised by the Council of Europe Youth...
Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine launches second phase: From commitment to concrete action
On 19 September, the Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) officially launched its second mandate with a productive online kick-off meeting. The CGU will continue providing a valuable peer review platform, while acting as a rapid response mechanism to address...
Strengthening Armenian legal professionals’ capacity to support trauma-affected children
On 19-20 September 2025, the Council of Europe project “Protecting the rights of Armenian children in post-conflict context” held its fourth training session on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for children affected by traumatic events. The two-day training was focused on...
Report on first roundtable on fact-based communication on migration
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has released the summary report of the first Roundtable on fact-based communication on migration which was organised by DMR on 7 November this year. The event was held in a hybrid format, gathering more than 120 participants,...