Background information

Deadly Crossings and the militarisation of Britain’s borders

Military-style solutions won’t solve humanitarian problems, argues our new report that details the nearly 300 border-related deaths in and around the English Channel since 1999. Deadly Crossings and the Militarisation of Britain’s Borders reveals the human tragedies caused by inhumane border enforcement at a time when the UK Home Office is seeking to make Channel crossings ‘unviable’. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Frankreich, Großbritannien

A Walled World - towards a global Apartheid

We are truly living in a walled world. These fortresses segregate people, protecting privilege and power and denying others human rights and dignity. This report argues that 30 years after its dismantling in South Africa, our walled world is creating a new kind of global apartheid. Such borders are constructed on racist ideologies, deny groups of people basic rights and perpetuate violence. As this report argues, the concept of global apartheid ‘helps explain tendencies and structures of power and global segregation’ in which ‘walls are just one of the physical and visible dimensions of the growing cultural, structural and physical violence that this system creates in the world’. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Weltweit

The Increase in arrivals of migrants in the Canary Islands highlights structural issues

Migration flows between the Canary Islands, Morocco and Senegal are at an all-time high, reproducing what happened in 2006 on this route. As of 15 November 2020, the number of people crossing has been multiplied by six, compared to 2019, reaching a total of 16,950 people. An increase in crossings leads to an increase in deaths at sea. In one week at the end of  October,  480 people died or were reported missing. On 29 October, 140 people lost their lives off the Senegalese coast. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Spanien, Nordafrika, Europa, Weltweit

Report to the Greek Governmenton the visit to Greece carried out by the European Committeefor the Prevention of Torture and Inhumanor Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)

The European Committeefor the Prevention of Torture and Inhumanor Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) wishes to emphasise that it acknowledges the significant challenges the Greek authorities are facing in dealing with large numbers of refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migrants entering the country. It has repeatedly stressed that addressing this phenomenon requires a coordinated European approach as well as support by the European Union and its member States. The response of the Greek authorities cannot rely on a policy of detention. At the same time, it wishes to reiterate that this situation cannot absolve the Greek authorities from their international human rights obligations as regards the treatment of foreign nationals deprived of their liberty. The State must exercise its duty of care to all persons deprived of their liberty and treat them with humanity and with dignity read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei, Europäische Union

Migranti climatici - Cause, definizioni e numeri di un fenomeno in crescita

Oggi l’1% del pianeta Terra è una zona calda appena vivibile e miliardi di persone chiamano questa terra “casa”. Entro il 2070, a causa del riscaldamento globale, questa percentuale potrebbe arrivare al 19%, forzando così la popolazione di queste aree a spostarsi in altri luoghi, e dando ulteriore impulso al fenomeno dei migranti climatici. read more

Language(s): Italienisch / Italiano
Region(s): Weltweit

New Pact on Migration – Policy Analysis

On 23rd September 2020, the European Commission presented its plans for the future of migration and asylum management in Europe. Whilst it has been widely acknowledged that an overhaul of the current system is imperative, the New Pact does little to quell concerns from INGOs, civil society groups, and human rights watchdogs. The Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN) has decided to focus on independent border monitoring, pre-screening procedures and mechanisms that immediately follow for the purpose of this policy analysis. These indicate a system in which external borders will be fortified in the interest of accelerating decision making processes for new arrivals into the bloc. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Balkanstaaten, Italien / Malta, Griechenland / Türkei, Europäische Union

Technological Testing Grounds

Migration Management Experiments and Reflections from the Ground Up - This report offers the beginning of a systemic analysis of migration management technologies, foregrounding the experiences of people on the move who are interacting with and thinking about surveillance, biometrics, and automated decision-making during the course of their migration journeys. Published by EDRI and Refugee Law Lab read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Weltweit

Populations at Risk: Implications of COVID-19 for Hunger, Migration and Displacement, November 2020

The joint WFP-IOM report highlights the close interconnection between hunger, conflict, migration and displacement, which has been further aggravated by COVID-19. The study explores the impact of the pandemic on the livelihoods, food security and protection of migrant workers households dependent on remittances and the forcibly displaced. Using the latest available data, the report highlights food security trends in some of the major migration and hunger hotspots across the world. The key findings have informed joint recommendations put forward by both agencies to mitigate the immediate negative effects on mobile and displaced populations, while preparing the pathway to recovery. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Weltweit

MONTHLY REVIEW: OCTOBER 2020

This monthly review covers topics such as Eurafrican migration control, migration and displacement in African countries and news on the European border regime. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Weltweit

Shrinking Spaces: Report on Criminalisation of Solidarity in the Western Balkans

This report documents the trend to de-legitimise, stigmatise and criminalise acts of humanity and solidarity with people on the move. It seeks to provide an overview, including some selected cases from Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia as well as analysis of particular key events. For this purpose semi-structured interviews with different grassroots actors who were impacted by forms of criminalisation of solidarity were conducted between January and November of 2019. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Balkanstaaten

Ever-changing Travel Routes in the Western Med - the Move to the South and the East

The report covers another turbulent four months of crossings, political developments and daily struggles against the European border system in the Western Med. As we described in our last report, the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in both Morocco and Spain, as well as raids and arbitrary arrests, have had a significant impact on arrivals to Spain. From June onwards, it became clear that both the Spanish and Moroccan state are using Covid-19 as another means of harrassing and arresting migrants or denying them basic necessities like decent accomodation. Despite these obstacles, people are leaving in search of a better life and fighting for their freedom of movement. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Spanien

Croatian authorities leading choreographed violence near Cetingrad

In the last fourteen days, BVMN-member No Name Kitchen have collected testimonies alluding to a spike in pushback violence in the Cetingrad area of the Croatian border with Bosnia-Herzegovina. The veracity of these testimonies is further supplemented with reports from local people and media outlets. The characteristics of this trend in violence have been complex and coordinated assaults by Croatian police, consisting of repetitive baton strikes, lashing and kicking. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Balkanstaaten

The Real Common Interest

For too long the EU’s migration policies have ignored the priorities of the countries it partners with for the sake of its own border security and domestic priorities. These have permeated the domestic migration and asylum policies of the Maghreb countries it supports, including Tunisia and Morocco, in a convergence of national interests of states, at the cost of people’s interests. The EU’s cooperation with its neighbours should encourage a real common interest: protecting people and fulfilling their rights. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Nordafrika, Europäische Union

Alarm Phone: Aegean Regional Analysis

Human rights violations reached a new level in the Aegean Sea and at the Greek-Turkish land border from the beginning of March. The escalation went along with acts of repression against NGOs and solidarity structures for refugees and migrants. Most recently, Greek authorities published a press release about a criminal investigation into 33 people from four different NGOs. Even though the press statement does not name the Alarm Phone nor as yet has there been an official statement including us, several media reports claim that Alarm Phone is among the groups targeted. Our position is still as our statement of 1 Oct 2020 and we refrain from commenting on the investigation or the rumours which surround it. Instead we want to focus on the real crimes that are ongoing in the Aegean: the push backs and human rights violations by the Greek government. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei

Der »New Pact«: Neue Grenzverfahren, mehr Haft, keine Lösung alter Probleme

Am 23. September 2020 hat die Europäische Kommission mit ihrem »New Pact on Migration and Asylum« einen neuen Vorschlag für eine Reform des Gemeinsamen Europäischen Asylsystems sowie die dazugehörigen Rechtsakte vorgestellt. PRO ASYL hat die Vorschläge analysiert und stellt die problematischsten Aspekte der Screening-Verordnung, der Asylverfahrensverordnung, der Asyl- und Migrationsmanagement-Verordnung und der Krisen-Verordnung vor. In ihrem Zusammenspiel untergraben sie das Recht auf Asyl in Europa, welches in Art. 18 Grundrechte-Charta verankert ist. read more

Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Europäische Union, Europa

EU External Migration Policy and the Protection of Human Rights

This in-depth analysis focuses on the human rights implications of EU external migration policy interventions: (1) identifying human rights obligations owed to third-country nationals when engaging in cooperation with third countries and non- EU actors; (2) assessing the means and level of compliance with these obligations when designing and implementing the main policy instruments; and (3) determining the existence and adequacy of operational, reporting, monitoring and accountability mechanisms available in each case to track and respond to potential violations. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Europäische Union, Europa

Six Years Alarm Phone: The Struggle at Sea continues

On 11 October 2020, the Alarm Phone turns six years old. Our network of over 200 activists who live on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea has assisted over 3,300 boats in distress in the three regions of the sea. Since October 2014, we keep this project running, without a break, 24/7. The perpetual violence of the border regime but especially the continuous struggles of people on the move have meant that we had to be alert day and night, ready to stand in solidarity with those trying to cross the sea. read more

Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Weltweit

Open Letter by Shipping Industry to EU-Comission

In an open letter to the EU-Commission, the shipping industry demands the immediate, plannable landing of people rescued at sea by merchant ships. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Europäische Union

The Real Crimes are Push-backs and Human Rights Violations by the Greek Government

On Monday, the Greek police issued a press release about the criminal investigation into 33 people from four different NGOs and two ‘third country nationals’. Accordingly, a criminal case was filed for the offenses of forming and joining a criminal organization, espionage, violation of state secrets, as well as facilitation of entry. Even though the press statement does not name the NGOs or the individuals, there were several media reports stating that the Alarm Phone is among the groups that are targeted. For the time being, we refrain from publicly commenting on the ongoing investigation. Instead, we want to point out the real crimes which are ongoing! read more

Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei

The Balkan route. Migrants without rights in the heart of Europe

Since 8 September 2015, hundreds of thousands of people - mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan - have arrived in Europe through Balkan countries, impacting the morphology and boundaries of these areas. In October 2015 - under the leadership of then President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker - representatives of UNHCR and Frontex met in Brussels alongside the leaders of Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia, to discuss joint management of the Western Balkans migrant route, strength- ening of border controls and the creation of a coordinated “hot spot” system between the various countries involved. Refugee transit camps, ad hoc railway stations, food and cloth- ing distribution centres and medical clinics have sprung up along this effectively legalised corridor monitored by the mil- itary. In addition to support provided by non-government or- ganisations, the mobilisation of local and international civilian society in solidarity with migrant people was fundamental. Since November 2015, border crossings have become increas- ingly difficult. read more

Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Balkanstaaten

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