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2020 was another tough year for the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Europe and at its borders, with many situations in which @commissionerHR had to speak out. A thread on some of those key interventions 1/20
In January, @commissionerHR called on Italy to suspend support to the Libyan Coast Guard leading to returns to serious human rights violations 2/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/ommissioner-calls-on-the-italian-government-to-suspend-the-co-operation-activities-in-place-with-the-libyan-coast-guard-that-impact-on-the-return-of-p
This was followed in February by an exchange of letters with the Italian FM on the MoU with Libya and the wider need for human rights safeguards in cooperation with third countries 3/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/commissioner-urges-italy-to-suspend-co-operation-activities-with-libyan-coast-guard-and-introduce-human-rights-safeguards-in-future-migration-co-opera
For more on @commissionerHR’s recommendations to protect the lives and rights of refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean, see below 4/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/council-of-europe-member-states-must-assume-more-responsibility-for-rescuing-migrants-at-sea-and-protecting-their-rights
Early March saw the escalation of the situation on the Greek-Turkish border, putting the rights of those caught in between at risk 5/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/urgent-action-is-needed-to-address-humanitarian-and-protection-needs-of-people-trapped-between-turkey-and-greece
In March, @commissionerHR also shared her observations on key human rights issues related to asylum and migration policy with the European Commission, in view of its preparation of the new Pact 6/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/new-eu-pact-on-migration-and-asylum-should-be-firmly-underpinned-by-human-rights-effective-solidarity-and-responsibility-sharing
Attention naturally also turned to the impact of COVID-19 on migrants. @CommissionerHR particularly called for the release of those in immigration detention as measure to protect their rights 7/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/commissioner-calls-for-release-of-immigration-detainees-while-covid-19-crisis-continues
In April, she also called on member states to ensure that search and rescue activities, as well as prompt and safe disembarkation, would continue, despite the COVID-19 crisis 8/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/states-should-ensure-rescue-at-sea-and-allow-safe-disembarkation-during-the-covid-19-crisis
More focus on the Mediterranean in May, with a call on Malta to ensure safe disembarkation, meet its rescue obligations, and investigate allegations of delay or non-response to distress situations 9/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/immediate-action-needed-to-disembark-migrants-held-on-ships-off-malta-s-coast
And a further intervention with Malta in June, as migrants rescued at sea were being held on chartered private ships off Malta’s coast 10/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/immediate-action-needed-to-disembark-migrants-held-on-ships-off-malta-s-coast
The same month, @Commissioner also participated in a hearing of the Grand Chamber of @echr_cedh on restrictions on family reunification for persons with temporary protection in Denmark 11/20 https://www.echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=hearings&w=669718_10062020&language=lang&c=&py=2020
Her written intervention in this case can be found here 12/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/the-commissioner-intervenes-before-the-european-court-of-human-rights-in-a-case-concerning-family-reunification-in-denmark
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, @CommissionerHR called attention to the urgent need to end impunity for pushbacks and border violence in Europe 13/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/pushbacks-and-border-violence-against-refugees-must-end
She further spoke about the link between the ECHR and the protection of refugees, including the need for collective political action to uphold human rights standards 14/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/protecting-refugees-in-europe-the-echr-and-beyond
End of June further saw @commissionerHR calling on the UK parliament to ensure safe and legal routes would be open to child refugees post-Brexit, and to introduce a time limit on detention 15/20 https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerHR/posts/1587502054759032
Fast forward to September, with a letter to Spain on the conditions of asylum seekers and migrants in Melilla 16/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/spain-s-authorities-must-find-alternatives-to-accommodating-migrants-including-asylum-seekers-in-substandard-conditions-in-melilla
Also in September, of course, the devastating fire in Moria, with @CommissionerHR calling both for immediate measures to deal with the aftermath and for structural reforms 17/20 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/commissioner-calls-on-the-greek-authorities-to-provide-adequate-support-to-all-those-affected-by-the-fire-in-moria
