On 14 November 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) gave its judgment concerning Finland in the case of the return of an asylum seeker to Iraq.

Merja Lahtinen, Desk Officer at the Unit for Human Rights Policy, worked as Team Leader for Finland’s Presidency of the Council of Europe. The Presidency of the Council required considerably more involvement than the every-day membership work at the Council. According to Lahtinen, the Presidency gave her unique expertise for her career.

Press points of Foreign Minister Timo Soini at the press conference of the Council of Europe

Member States of the Council of Europe issued a unanimous Declaration and made significant decisions in Helsinki on May 17th 2019.