01/10/2024 Session
PACE expressed today its concern about the phenomenon of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers going missing, “a tragedy largely underestimated as a human rights issue,” believing that policy responses are needed across Europe and the world. It marked its solidarity with the families of the missing, acknowledging their legitimate quest for information.
With a view to clarifying the fate of missing migrants, PACE called on member states, in a resolution based on the report by Julian Pahlke (Germany, SOC), to review their legislation in order to improve and harmonise national processes to record and manage cases of missing migrants and unidentified human remains – including “as regards gaps in the medico-legal framework and the issue of European and international data sharing,” in line with data protection standards.
In addition, the Assembly invited national and regional authorities with responsibilities in the field of data protection, human rights and migration issues to intensify their coordination, between themselves and with international and UN organisations sharing recognised expertise on compilation. In this respect, the Council of Europe could play a meaningful role to ensure data protection conditions allowing for platforms to enable the matching of data, according to the parliamentarians.
Pointing out that a significant number of missing migrants were children, PACE stressed the need for “the systematic registration of unaccompanied children”, for search efforts when they go missing, and for a safe referral to appropriate accommodation, educational facilities and, when applicable, to family reunification.
Finally, PACE recommended that member states adopt a common definition of “missing migrants, refugees and asylum seekers”, which would ensure better co-operation between member states and in the implementation of Council of Europe instruments applicable in this area.