Ukraine - Displacement
Commissioner for Human Rights on safeguarding Ukrainians displaced across Europe
Over four years ago, at the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression, while leading an EU agency, I deployed a team to Ukraine’s borders. The extraordinary solidarity shown by the people of Europe’s villages and towns was striking. Host countries provided Ukrainians with the right to stay and...
Mission to Czechia looks into the protection, reception and integration of war-displaced Ukrainians
On 22-24 April the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) carried out a mission to Prague, to collect and analyse information on the protection, reception and integration of war-displaced Ukrainians, Czechia currently hosting around 400 000 of temporary protection (TP) beneficiaries, the...
Advancing coordinated action for children of Ukraine: taking stock and shaping next steps
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...
Division on Migration and Refugees publishes report on mission to Poland
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has published a report following its mission to Poland on 4 -5 February 2026, which focused on the reception and integration of Ukrainian war-displaced persons in the country, currently approximately one million, making Poland the...
Ukraine – Council of Europe adresses UN Human Rights Council on forced displacement and human rights violations
On 26 March, the United Nations Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue following the High Commissioner Volker Türk’s update on the human rights situation in Ukraine. The discussion was based on a thematic report focusing on the forcible transfer and deportation of civilians, barriers...
Recovery, reconstruction, decentralisation in post-war Ukraine among key themes
“Building back better”: support to Ukraine at local and regional levels in focus at Congress session
A strategic support of the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine at local and regional levels in the context of Russia’s war of aggression, current reforms of decentralisation and good governance, and territorial organisation of power in the country – these are among key themes focusing on...
Register of Damage for Ukraine opens claims to Ukrainian refugees abroad
The Register of Damage for Ukraine, part of an international compensation mechanism within the framework of the Council of Europe, has opened a new category of claims for those seeking compensation for damage caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression. Category A1.2, concerning “Involuntary...
Mission to Poland focused on the reception and integration of Ukrainian displaced persons and the situation at the eastern border
On 4 and 5 February, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) carried out a mission to Poland. The visit focused on the reception and integration of Ukrainian war-displaced persons in the country, currently numbering approximately one million, making Poland the...
The training of trainers as part of the training program “Trauma-informed approach in the context of access to human rights and essential services for internally displaced persons and returnees in Ukraine”
The training of trainers, organized through 2-7 November in Lviv by the Council of Europe Project “Facilitating Access to Human Rights and Essential Services for Internally Displaced Persons and Returnees at the Community Level,” as part of the training program “Trauma-informed approach in the...
Warsaw Security Forum: Council of Europe to do everything to strengthen protection of Ukrainian children
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge and the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on the situation of Children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir represented the Council of Europe at the 12th edition of the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland (29–30 September 2025). Opened by Polish Prime...
Council of Europe joins statement by the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children
The Council of Europe joined 38 countries[1] and the EU calling on Russia to return the children unlawfully transferred and deported from Ukraine to the Russian Federation without delay and any conditions. The joint statement was issued by the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian...
Summer School Fortifies Local Efforts to Protect Rights of Ukraine's IDPs
A targeted Summer School initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation between civil society organisations (CSOs) and local self-government bodies has successfully concluded in Chernivtsi. The event, held from 18 to 22 August, focused on enhancing capacities and promoting effective collaboration...
With €200 million to support IDPs, Ukraine and the CEB sign their largest loan agreement since the start of the war
Rome – On the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025) in Rome today, the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Oksana Zholnovych, and Carlo Monticelli, Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) signed a €200 million loan agreement. This marks the largest amount of...
Photo exhibition (UN)CORNERED opened at Council of Europe to mark World Refugee Day
On the World Refugee Day, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) organised the photo exhibition (UN)CORNERED / (НЕ)ЗАГНАНІ У КУТ by photographer Julia Wimmerlin, in partnership with the Permanent Representation of Ukraine. Held in the Agora building’s Main Hall, the...
Without prospect of justice for children, any promise of rebuilding Ukraine will be empty
Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the Situation of Children of Ukraine Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, speaking at the high-level event “Justice and Accountability: Protecting children in the War of Aggression against Ukraine”, stressed the key importance...
CEB and Ukraine sign €50 million loan agreement to provide housing for internally displaced persons
On 26 May, the Government of Ukraine and The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) have signed a €50 million loan agreement to provide housing for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration – Minister for the Development of...
Trauma-informed care for children of Ukraine indispensable for any reconstruction efforts, says Special Envoy at a conference in Helsinki
Future needs of returned children, their rehabilitation and reintegration, including trauma-informed care was the focus of the intervention by the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the situation of children of Ukraine Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir at a...
Children's rights in focus
The recently appointed Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, conducted her first fact-finding mission to Ukraine (19-20 March), during which she met with a broad range of key partners, both at the high and working...
Special Envoy of Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine appointed
Secretary General Alain Berset has appointed Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir (Iceland) as his Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine. She will raise awareness of the challenges faced by the children of Ukraine and of the Council of Europe’s standards and initiatives to...
