Organized by the Jean Monnet Chair in Legal Aspects of Migration Management in the European Union and in Türkiye, the Migration Talks-VI conference was held on the 17th of December, 2025. With over 30 years of international experience in the field of human rights and the rule of law, Ms. Leyla Kayacık is a longstanding member of the Secretariat of the Council of Europe. Throughout her extensive career, she has held various key positions, including roles within the former European Commission of Human Rights (European Court of Human Rights), the Secretariat of the European Social Charter, in the field in Ankara programme office, as Director of the Private Office of the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General and as Deputy to the Secretary of the Committee of Ministers. From 1 January 2022 to 1 February 2024, Ms Kayacık served as the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on migration and refugees. After completing her service at the Council of Europe, Ms Kayacık continues to actively engage as human rights expert, with a special focus on matters related to migrants and refugees. She also serves as the Secretary General of the Europa Power Initiative operated by EuropaNova, a European think tank based in Paris. Its aim is to strengthen Europe as a systemic, global, sustainable and responsible actor, placing citizens at the core of its mission.
Ms Kayacık holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Strasbourg and a master’s degree in English language and literature from the University of Nice. She is fluent in Turkish, French and English. She has knowledge of German and Arabic.
Access the full talk here: https://youtu.be/sEVvxpN1eG0
