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@CommissionerHR shared with @ECHR_CEDH her observations on #pushbacks from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her main conclusions in this thread 1/6 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/commissioner-publishes-observations-on-summary-returns-of-migrants-from-croatia-to-bosnia-and-herzegovina
First, "all information available points to the existence of an established practice of collective returns from Croatia to BiH, which are carried out outside of any formal procedure and without identifying the persons concerned or assessing their individual situation." 2/6
"This practice prevents the persons concerned from properly exercising their right to seek international protection, which clearly also applies under Croatian law to those crossing borders irregularly, and deprives them of effective remedies." 3/6
Also: "her own observations, supported by numerous reports, point to widespread ill-treatment of migrants by Croatian law enforcement officers + lack of prompt, effective & independent investigation of such treatment, as a result of which officers continue to enjoy impunity" 4/6
And: "the above-mentioned practices also fail to have due regard for the individual implications of returning a person to Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in view of the long-standing and serious structural problems in the field of migration and asylum..." 5/6
"...which have had dramatic humanitarian consequences for thousands of migrants and asylum seekers. This includes insufficient reception capacity, serious obstacles to accessing asylum and a lack of adequate protection for vulnerable groups, all of which are well documented." 6/6
