Forced return – 20 guidelines adopted by the Committee of Ministers

National authorities in charge of elaborating or implementing the effective return of irregular migrants are often faced with sensitive and complex issues: how to ensure that no individual is sent back to a place where his/her life or security is at risk; under what conditions should detention pending removal be allowed; what information can be provided to the state of origin. This type of issue was, to a large extent, addressed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe when, on 4 May 2005, it adopted 20 guidelines on forced return. These guidelines offer a systematic overview of the standards developed in this field by the different bodies within the Council of Europe. The 20 guidelines on forced return serve as a practical guide to be used both by government officials and by all those directly or indirectly involved in return operations in Europe.