Strasbourg: The Council of Europe on Thursday cautioned its 46 member states about the risks linked to deporting migrants to third countries, emphasizing the potential for serious violations against those deported.

According to Qatar News Agency, Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concerns in a statement, highlighting that such deportation policies could significantly endanger women, men, and children, exposing them to ongoing suffering and serious violations.

A report released by the Council alongside the statement noted that deportation policies to third countries may risk exposing individuals to torture, ill-treatment, mass deportations, or arbitrary detention, potentially endangering their lives. The report also indicated that these policies might hinder access to asylum rights and restrict individuals from legally contesting deportation decisions.

In recent developments, the European Court of Justice supported an Italian judge’s decision to return migrants to Italy after their deportation to Albania. Additionally, the European Court of Human Rights, affiliated with the Council of Europe, halted a UK plan in 2022 to relocate migrants to Rwanda. Last month, an agreement between London and Paris was signed, allowing for the return of migrants to France.

The Council of Europe, a key body responsible for overseeing human rights and democracy across the continent, pointed out the serious challenges these measures present. This comes in light of a July agreement by several European countries establishing objectives to tighten asylum policies within the EU, including resuming deportations to other countries and treating these actions as standard procedure.