Europe’s deadly frontiers: European parliament must stand up for
migrants
(Brussels, 13 June 2012) Amnesty International has
pressed European Union governments and EU institutions to stop exposing people
to danger on Europe’s borders. The
call accompanies the launch of an online public petition to Members of the
European Parliament, urging them to fulfill their ‘watchdog’ role and hold
governments and institutions accountable for how they treat migrants, refugees
and asylum-seekers along Europe’s borders.
Today
also sees the launch of Amnesty International’s When you
don’t exist campaign, which will target the plight of these ‘people
on the move’.
“For the EU,
reinforcing Europe’s borders clearly trumps
saving lives “, said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty
International’s European Institutions Office. “By attempting
to curb ‘irregular migration’, European countries have bolstered border control
measures beyond European frontiers without regard to the human cost. Far from
public view, these measures put people at risk of serious abuse.”
Last
year, at least 1,500 men, women and children drowned in the Mediterranean
struggling to reach Europe. Some of these
deaths were avoidable. Delayed rescue costs lives. In recent years, some
survivors have been forced back to countries where they faced abuse and
ill-treatment.
On
several occasions Italy
pushed back people to Libya
where they were detained and mistreated. In an environment where there is
little transparency or oversight, human rights abuses often go unpunished along
Europe’s coasts and borders.
The campaign’s background
Amnesty
International’s campaign seeks to hold to account any European country which
violates human rights in enforcing migration controls. When you don’t exist aims to defend the
rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe
and around its borders. People move to Europe
for different reasons.
Some flee persecution or war. Others try to
abandon a life of chronic poverty. They hope to find a better, safer future
here. All too often the reality is different.
Today,
Europe is failing to promote and respect the
rights of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees. Hostility is widespread and
mistreatment often goes unreported.
As
long as people on the move are invisible, they are vulnerable to abuse.
Find
out more at www.whenyoudontexist.eu.
For more information please contact:
Peter
Clarke
Media
& Communications Officer
European
Institutions Office
Amnesty
International
Tel:
+32 (0) 2 548 2773
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