News Highlights: Letter criticises EU migration policy ahead of EU Summit, Italy’s anti-rescue decree adopted, Eritrea targets Catholic health facilities

In this week’s news highlights: Letter – EU migration policy contributes to human rights abuses; Italy adopts anti-rescue decree; Refugee accused of being trafficker faces 14 years in jail; Eritrean refugees from Switzerland on streets of Belgium; Sudan’s TMC seen as responsible for abuses – protests continue; Eritrea and Sudan agreement to reopen shared border; Eritrean Catholic health facilities shut down; Eritrean campaign urges transition; EU accused of fostering slave-like conditions through its project in Eritrea; UN Secretary-General calls enforcement of Libyan arms embargo; and Libyan Government of National Accord proposes steps towards peace.

Eritrean asylum seekers rejected by Switzerland face life on the streets of Brussels

Swiss authorities have rejected hundreds of applications of Eritrean asylum seekers who are now legally obliged to return back to Eritrea. Rejected Eritreans are left out of the social assistance as Switzerland has tightened the admission criteria through the ruling of the Swiss Federal Administrative Court adopted on 10 July 2018. This recent practice leads to social disintegration and it brings a new wave of insecurity and fear among the Eritrean community living in Switzerland. Because of this situation, many Eritreans are currently residing on the streets of Brussels hoping to reach the UK. Young Eritreans speak about their experiences.

Letter: Appeal for an EU external policy framework based on European values

A letter was sent today, 18 June 2019, to Mr. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. The letter urges the European Union to respond to concerns raised about the European Union’s funding and cooperation with external actors in the context of platforms such as the Khartoum Process. The letter was signed by Nobel-prize Nominee, Fr. Mussie Zerai, Prof. Dr. Mirjam van Reisen, journalist Reem Abbas and Director Koert Debeuf, on behalf of over 20 organisations.