UN: ‘Member States should fulfill their obligations to save lives and stop criminalizing humanitarian aid actors’

The United Nations published a report by Agnes Callamard, the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The report, entitled “Saving lives is not a crime”, describes that the States’ actions to fight terrorism and deter migration, and the subsequent criminalization of humanitarian services, constitute a violation of their obligations. The report urges States to cease the criminalisation of those trying to assist and/or save migrants and refugees.

News highlights: Refugees fear UNHCR investigation, EU elaborates on ‘disembarkation centres’, 18-month national service limit may arrive

In this week’s news highlights: news highlights on summer break; Indefinite national service for new Eritrean recruits may be limited, but diaspora remains cautious; Refugees fear lack of protection in UNHCR investigation in Sudan; Eritrean refugees in Sudan are losing faith in UNHCR; Report on Ethiopian man wrongfully deported from UK; New South Sudan peace deal met with scepticism; Somalia to prosecute in case of 10-year-old dying from FGM; European Commission elaborates on ‘controlled centres’ and ‘disembarkation centres’; European Commission defends development-migration fund link; MSF warns EU to stop return of migrants to Libya.  

News Highlights: Eritrea to send delegation to Ethiopia, UK Home Office’s delays lead to child migrants’ deaths, Hungary’s anti-immigration laws

In this week’s news highlights: Eritrean-Ethiopian relationship developments – Eritrea to send delegation; Ethiopian security forces accused by PM Abiy; Rebel leader and president meet to discuss peace in South Sudan; Stop harassing news outlets, Sudanese advocacy group urges the government; Sudan and South Sudan to be assisted by new EU fund; Mishandlings of asylum requests by the UK Home Office has lethal outcomes; Hungarian anti-immigration laws passed; EU’s informal deal on migrants’ access to labor market; MSF urges politicians to put human lives first; UN Refugee Commissioner Grandi’s statement for World Refugee Day; and the Post- Cotonou Agreement’s focal points.