News Highlights: Sudan bans protests, Leaked documents on EU Operation Sophia, video shows abuse in Libya
28 Feb 2019

News Highlights: Sudan bans protests, Leaked documents on EU Operation Sophia, video shows abuse in Libya

by | posted in: Africa, African Union, Asylum Seekers, Detention, Eritrea, European Politics, European Union, Germany, Horn of Africa region, Human Trafficking, Libya, Migration, Weekly news highlights | 0

In this week’s news highlights: Politico publishes leaked documents on EU operation Sophia; Germany confirms communication problems with Libya coast guard; EU-Arab League Summit discusses migration; African Union objects to ‘disembarkation platforms’; Video shows torture for ransom in Libya; Refugees threatened after abuse in Libya detention centre; State of emergency and protest ban in Sudan; Emergency state Sudan used to legitimise excessive force; Eritrea ranks high on slavery list; and militant guarding of Eritrea’s capital Asmara reported.

EU leaders push on security and border control in the first EU – Arab League meeting
28 Feb 2019

EU leaders push on security and border control in the first EU – Arab League meeting

by | posted in: Asylum Seekers, European Politics, European Union, Human Trafficking, Migration, Refugees in the EU | 0

On February 24th and 25th, in Sharm el-Sheikh, European and Arab League leaders took part in the first League of Arab States-European Union summit, presided by Donald Tusk, president of the European council and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egyptian president. At the summit, several high-level EU leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian and British prime ministers, Giuseppe Conte and Theresa May, were present. Migration was one of the main topics that was discussed, with the EU interested in giving the Arab League a bigger role in curbing migration. The two blocs have agreed to hold the summit every three years in rotation, with the next gathering due in Brussels in 2022.

UN: ‘Member States should fulfill their obligations to save lives and stop criminalizing humanitarian aid actors’
8 Oct 2018

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

by | posted in: Asylum Seekers, EEPA news and activities, Médecins Sans Frontières, Mediterranean Sea, Migration, Refugees in the EU, United Nations | 0

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.