20/11/2013 Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
Council of Europe member and observer states should show “generosity and solidarity” in admitting Syrian refugees to their territory, and ensure a balanced distribution among countries, a PACE committee has said.
Approving a report by Jean-Marie Bockel (France, EPP/CD), PACE’s Migration Committee also expressed gratitude to the Turkish, Jordanian, Lebanese and Iraqi authorities for having taken in an enormous number of refugees, and thanked member states who are already accommodating them.
It thanked the Turkish authorities in particular for their work in setting up reception structures where Syrian refugees can live in decent conditions, and urged the international community to help this country further.
However, it also regretted that member states have “not adopted general policies on Syrian refugees and that most of them are continuing to assess Syrian asylum applications individually”.
The committee also raised concern about the situation of women and children, who account for the great majority of Syrian refugees, pointing out that many women suffer sexual and gender-based violence.