Over 85 countries and NGOs gathered this week for the conference “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region”, in an attempt to revive peace efforts and bolster financial support for humanitarian aid to the war-stricken region. Jointly chaired by the United Nations...
The Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced this week that 29,899 Afghans had crossed into Turkey since January – this compares to a total of 45,259 for the whole of 2017. The Minister said 7,100 migrants have been sent back to Afghanistan since early...
JOINT STATEMENT Greece: Government Defies Court on Asylum Seekers Reinstates Containment Policy That Keeps People Trapped on Islands (Athens, April 25, 2018) – The Greek government’s move on April 20, 2018, overturning a binding court ruling ordering it to end its...
The European Parliament yesterday voted by a large majority to endorse the proposal for a European Values Instrument (EVI), this is a welcome development for European civil society and indeed for all who defend rule of law and democracy in Europe. The EU’s Member...
On Tuesday, the Greek Council of State issued a decision annulling the Asylum Service Director Decision which imposed a geographical restriction on asylum seekers arriving on the islands of Lesvos, Rhodes, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos after 20 March 2016. The Council...
Op-ed by Carlos Orjuela and Lorraine Leete of Legal Centre Lesbos. “On the 20 April, we are scheduled to attend trial in Chios after waiting nine months, trapped on Lesvos, while 30 of our brothers unjustly have waited in prison for this same time period. Our...
UNHCR and Human Rights Watch have reported on the situation for African migrants and asylum seekers in Yemen this week. Many migrants are arrested, detained in inhumane conditions, abused, sent out to sea in dangerous mass deportations and in some cases executed. Most...
The Copenhagen Declaration on the reform of the European Convention on Human Rights system was adopted by all 47 member states of the Council of Europe on April 13 following a meeting in Copenhagen. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR’s) dynamic interpretation...
The rescue boat belonging to Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms was ordered to be released this week, having been held in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo since 18 March. The ship was impounded after an altercation in international waters off the Libyan coast, during which...
EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avromopoulos announced that Germany would be accepting over 10,000 refugees from North Africa and the Middle East as part of the EU’s voluntary resettlement program. Commissioner Avromopoulos was in...
