News Highlights: African women call for peace initiative in the Horn, EU halts budget funds to Ethiopia, Tunisians majority of arrivals in Italy

In this week’s news highlights: Unhindered humanitarian aid not yet a reality in Tigray, Ethiopia; 120 African women sign appeal for peace force in the Horn; Somalia breaks diplomatic ties with Kenya; Recognition of Shona and Rwandan descendants by Kenyan government; HRW’s report addresses issues around abuses conducted by NSS agents in South Sudan; Young people flee from Tunisia a decade after the revolution; UNHCR states 930,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance in Libya; The EU halts annual budgetary support to Ethiopia over human rights concerns in Tigray; 3 persons arrested in Spain after degrading labour conditions for migrants discovered; The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner asks to Bosnian authorities to provide support for refugees; South Sudanese singer one of 3,000 to face potential deportation from The Netherlands; UNHCR celebrates 70th anniversary; IOM and UNHCR stress need for universal health coverage.

For frequent updates about the situation in the Horn, please see the EEPA Horn situation reports.

News Highlights Extra No. 5: Conflict in the Horn

EEPA is sending extra news highlights on the conflict in the Horn of Africa: previous highlights extra and EEPA’s situation reports on the Horn crisis. Fighting continues in various location It is reported that fighting in Tigray is ongoing in … Continued

European Parliament’s LIBE Committee calls for new measures for the protection of Asylum Seekers and respect for Human Rights

Since 30 November 2020, several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in LIBE and FEMM parliamentary committees have been taking stock of dossiers concerning the recent activities of FRONTEX, voluntary returns and detention in first reception centres, asylum seekers’ rights and family reunification, child protection and human trafficking. The purpose of the resolutions is to raise attention of the European Parliament and European Commission on the protection of asylum seekers. MEPs discussions suggested several improvements for the EU legal framework on human rights and new approaches on the application of it at local level.