On World Refugee Day, 20 June, the Council of Europe drew attention to the plight of millions of people who have been forced to flee war, violence and persecution and to the international obligations under the under the United Nations 1951 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Refugees. It highlighted the gravity of the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe, primarily driven by the conflict in Ukraine. The response from host countries, local authorities, civil society, and individuals demonstrated the significance of collective and rapid actions in supporting refugees.
The Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025) proposes targeted measures and activities to enhance the capacity of member states to identify and address vulnerabilities throughout asylum and migration procedures.
In close co-operation with our member states, international partners, including UNHCR, IOM and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), as well as with civil society, we continue to draw attention to the protection of human rights of those who are in vulnerable situations and the need to provide safeguards for them, in particular to unaccompanied and separated children and to possible victims of abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
To pay tribute to refugees everywhere and in partnership with UNHCR, the Council of Europe (Les Mercredis du Conseil de l’Europe) has produced a video: World Refugee Day.
On 13 and 14 June , the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on Migration and Refugees, Leyla Kayacik, took part in two events in Warsaw, both linked to her fact-finding mission to Poland.
At a seminar on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Labour Exploitation, organised by the Council of Europe Anti-human Trafficking Division, the SRSG presented her findings related to this phenomenon and highlighted the importance of a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach of all relevant national and international actors to minimise the risks.
The latest report on Poland issued by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) was also presented to the representatives of government departments, law enforcement, labour inspectors, private sector, trade unions, academia, civil society and international organisations.
On 14 June, the SRSG addressed an event on Psychological Support to Refugees: Strengthening Capacities for Professionals Working with Children and Adolescents Who Experience War or Conflict Trauma.
Recalling that this was a follow-up to a pilot training held in Warsaw in December 2022, the Special Representative underlined that this opportunity to hear from experts, including those from Ukraine, will strengthen capacities of professionals working with children and adolescents traumatised by war.
The SRSG also participated in the conference “Addressing Statelessness in Europe: Closing Protection Gaps and Realising Everyone’s Right to a Nationality” in Madrid, on 9 June.
The event, organised by the European Network on Statelessness and Convive Fundación CEPAIM, brought together more than 250 participants, including representatives of international organisations, governments and civil society. It focused on assessing the global situation, raising awareness, building alliances to protect stateless people and ensure everyone’s right to a nationality.
In the opening panel, the SRSG outlined the standards and activities of the Council of Europe addressing statelessness, particularly the 1997 European Convention on Nationality. She referred to further work to be done in the context of the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe to promote the right to a nationality, in particular for children. This work will build on the outcomes of the 2021 International Conference organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the UNHCR.
The SRSG’s visit included meetings with representatives of the Spanish authorities, who updated her on the progress made and the new challenges faced since the Report on the fact-finding mission to Spain issued in 2018. And in the margins of the Conference, the Special Representative also discussed joint activities and avenues for further co-operation with Gillian Triggs, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, and with Nina Gregori, Executive Director of the European Union Asylum Agency.
On 1-2 June 2023, the Special Representative chaired the 7th meeting of the Network of Focal Points on Migration (NFPM), which gathered participants from ministries dealing with migration issues from more than 40 member states.
In line with the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Asylum and Migration in Europe (2021-2025), the meeting placed a special focus on the needs of children from Ukraine who found refuge in the Council of Europe member states.
The Handbook on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in crisis and emergency situations as well as the Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)22 of the Committee of Ministers on human rights principles and guidelines on age assessment in the context of migration were presented to the Network.
The participants also held exchanges on:
- The execution of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments and decisions relating to migration and refugees;
- The parts of the 32nd General Report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) concerning the prevention of ill-treatment of foreign nationals deprived of their liberty in the context of forced removals at borders;
- The resolution and recommendation on the notion of “Safe Third Countries for Asylum Seekers” adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
“The issue of migration and asylum, with all its complexities and implications, requires collaboration and it is more important than ever to come together and to listen to one another” the Special Representative concluded.
Finally, on 23 June, the SRSG also took part in the closing conference of the multilateral project Building Futures, Sharing Good Practices: Migrant Children’s Transition to Adulthood – UACFutures”, funded by the EU's Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Council of Europe.
In her opening remarks, she highlighted the challenges faced by migrant and refugee children when they turn 18, and their adverse impact on the protection, overall wellbeing and inclusion.
The SRSG further informed the participants how the work of her office led to the adoption of the Recommendation (2019)4 on Supporting Young Refugees in Transition to Adulthood, and the accompanying practical guide, developed in the framework of the current Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025).
To support the implementation of the CM recommendation, a youth-friendly guide was officially launched in April under the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. It was promoted through the implementation of the project "Building Futures, Sharing Good Practices: Migrant Children’s Transition to Adulthood," which was carried out in Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain. The DGI Cooperation Division executed the project with financial support from DG HOME (AMIF). The results of the project included the provision of assistance in areas related to psychological impact and support, legal support and access to basic rights, access to education and the labour market, as well as access to accommodation. Additionally, Compendium of Good Practices, Toolkit on Transition to Adulthood and a HELP module for this particular topic were developed.
