[colombiamigra] Fw: [NIEM] PICUM Bulletin — 17 December 2012 (Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants)
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Subject: [NIEM] PICUM Bulletin — 17 December 2012 (Platform for International
Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants)
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PICUM Bulletin — 17 December 2012
* Borders
* United Nations
* European Policy Developments
* National Developments
* Health Care
* Undocumented Women
* Undocumented Children and Their Families
* Detention and Deportation
* Publications and other Resources
* Other News
Borders
* GREECE / 120 migrants reached the shore of southern island Kythera
A group of 120 migrants were found by the Greek Coastguard on 18 November 2012,
near the island of Kythera, in the south of the country, after Emergency
services received a call from the migrants fearful that water was entering the
boat. According to Athens News Agency, the migrants managed to reach the shore
on their own, while the coast guard searched the coast for more survivors. The
Coastguard also searched for fifteen migrants that had allegedly reached the
shore according to a migrant from Egypt, found by the coast guard.
Source: Greek Reporter, 18 November 2012; Le Figaro, 19 November 2012
* ITALY / 500 undocumented migrants rescued at sea
About 500 undocumented migrants were rescued at sea between 24 and 26 November
2012. Among them, 350 had come from Libya and were rescued between Lampedusa
Island and Malta, while another group of 80, who were mainly from Eritrea and
Ethiopia, including 25 women and one pregnant woman, were found near Syracuse.
Among the others who reached Sicily’s southern coasts, one man died while two
are still missing. Lampedusa’s Mayor, Giusi Nicolini, insisted that migrants
shall be transferred to the island’s reception centre, which is already hosting
about 1,000 people.
Source: La Repubblica, 26 November 2012
* ITALY / Ten Undocumented migrants reach Italy inside empty pillars
Ten undocumented migrants, including two children, originating from Syria,
Afghanistan and Pakistan, reached Italy by hiding inside empty concrete
pillars. Found in the city of Ancona, they had survived a journey of sixteen
hours inside the limited space of pillars. They were found in good health
conditions. The children were taken into care by a reception community, while
the adults were sent back to Greece, the departing place, by the border police.
Source: Il messaggero, 15 November 2012
* SPAIN / 169 migrants rescued in the first week of December 2012
Maritime Rescue rescued a total of 169 migrants during the first week of
December 2012. On 1 December 2012, seven migrants were rescued when they tried
to reach the Spanish coast by using a toy boat, and on 2 December 2012 eleven
migrants travelling by inflatable boats were also rescued. On 3 December 2012,
21 migrants from Sub-Saharan origin were also rescued, and on 4 December 2012,
two boats were located after receiving emergency calls from the passengers.
From these two boats, a total of nineteen migrants were rescued, including two
babies and six women. The most numerous rescues took place on 5 December 2012,
as 33 migrants from Sub-Saharan origin were rescued in the Straits of
Gibraltar. The migrants were travelling on three inflatable boats. Another four
boats carrying 29 migrants, including one baby, were rescued on 6 December
2012. These four boats were found to be reaching their buoyancy capacity and
had water coming in. The passengers had used
plastic rows to sail. Lastly, 49 migrants, including one baby, travelling in
six toy boats, were rescued on 7 December 2012. According to Europasur,
December 2012 could be the month with the highest number of migrants rescued.
Humanitarian organisations claim that the rising number could be a result of
small groups of migrants buying inflatable boats on their own, instead of
paying EUR 900 that smugglers charge in order to cross the 20 kilometres of sea
between Morocco and Tarifa, Spain. The inflatable toys pose a significantly
higher risk for migrants due to the nature of the boat, and also to the
on-going transit of merchant ships, which constitutes a serious sinking threat.
Source: El Pais, 3 December 2012; El Pais, 6 December 2012; El Pais, 7 December
2012; Diario de Cadiz, 5 December 2012; Europasur, 7 December 2012
United Nations
* GREECE / Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants calls on
Greece and EU to boost protection for irregular migrants
Following a nine day visit to Greece that finished on 3 December 2012, the
Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Mr François Crépeau, called
on Greece to protect the rights of migrants in the country, while emphasising
that it is also the EU’s responsibility to address the situation of migrants
trapped in Greece on their journey to other European countries. Mr Crépeau drew
attention to the recently implemented policy in Greece that allows the
systematic detention of irregular migrants entering the country, including
families and children; the inadequate detention conditions, as well as the
insufficient procedural safeguards in the detention facilities for migrants;
lack of automatic judicial review of decisions to detain migrants as well as no
guarantee of access to an interpreter and lawyer. The Special Rapporteur also
claimed that despite the existing plan for a national asylum process and the
establishment of first reception
services in Greece, which would enable the identification of migrants with
vulnerabilities, no sufficient funding has been allocated to this plan. The
full end-of-mission statement with recommendations to both the Greek Government
and the EU can be accessed here. Following an official press conference, the UN
Special Rapporteur also presented his findings to Greek civil society
organisations on the occasion of a PICUM event organised in partnerships with
i-RED Institute for Rights, Equality and Diversity, Greek Council for Refugees,
Doctors of the World Greece, and Amnesty International – Greek Section. The
event entitled ‘The silent humanitarian crisis in Greece: Devising strategies
on national, European and international levels to improve the situation of
migrants in Greece”, took place on Monday, 3 December, in Athens, Greece. To
find out more about this event, click here. A report of this workshop will be
published by PICUM in January 2013.
Source: UN News Centre, 3 December 2012; UN News Centre, 3 December 20120;
PICUM News, 27 November 2012
European Policy Developments
* EU / PICUM submits key messages on the occasion of the Second
Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion
On the occasion of the Second Convention of the European Platform against
Poverty and Social Exclusion, which took place from 5-7 December 2012, PICUM
called on the European Union to support inclusive measures that address the
realities at local and regional level, and invest in universal access to
essential services (including education, health care, housing and shelters), as
well as upholding fair working conditions and the fundamental rights of all
persons, irrespective of residence status. PICUM stated that investing in the
fundamental rights of all persons and universal access to essential services is
vital to reduce poverty and social exclusion, improve social cohesion, increase
equality and generate inclusive growth. To read the full text of PICUM Key
Messages to the Second Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and
Social Exclusion click here.
Source: PICUM News, 3 December 2012
* EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT / Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) on Eurosur:
protecting the lives of migrants and refugees must be a key aim
The Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) of the European Parliament established, on
27 November 2012, that protecting the lives of migrants and refugees,
especially at sea, must be a key aim of the EU's new ’Eurosur’ border
surveillance system. When using Eurosur, Member States must respect migrants'
human rights and the "non-refoulement" principle, which prohibits returning
anyone to a place where his or her life or freedoms could be threatened. The
Committee amended the draft to ensure that the need to save lives is properly
reflected throughout the legislation. MEPs also agreed in full compliance with
EU fundamental rights standards, including personal data protection, and thus
MEPs also amended the draft to restrict the range of cases in which personal
data could be shared via Eurosur and prohibit any exchange of this data with
third countries. Once the Parliament’s rapporteur, who is given mandate by the
Civil Liberties Committee, and the Council
reach an agreement on the draft and adopt a regulation, Eurosur could start
work on 1 October 2013. The plans voted by MEPs came shortly after a group of
NGOs including PICUM, the Jesuit Refugee Service - Europe (JRS), the European
Network Against Racism (ENAR), the European Association for the Defence of
Human Rights (AEDH) and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN)
sent two letters, on 10 July and 3 September respectively (See PICUM News 10
July 2012 and 3 September 2012) to the Committee of Civil Liberties calling for
the proposed Eurosur surveillance system to guarantee and protect the
fundamental rights for all migrants and asylum seekers. The letters aimed at
challenging the Eurosur proposal, as it was focused largely on fighting
organised crime and irregular migration with little focus on protecting the
rights of irregular migrants.
Source: European Parliament News, 27 November 2012
* EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT / Hearing on access to justice: ensuring
compensation for trafficked persons
On 28 November 2012 Dutch Green MEP Judith Sargentini hosted a hearing at the
EP co-organized by COMP.ACT, a three-year European project by La Strada
International and Anti-Slavery International and their partners to improve
access to justice and guarantee compensation for trafficked people. The aim of
the project is that compensation becomes one of the key elements of programmes
of assistance and services to trafficked people in Europe. Despite
international and national legislation, in practice for victims of trafficking,
this is an ineffective right. MEP Sargentini recalled the importance of the
most recent EU Directive on victims’ rights, together with other EU
instruments, that demonstrated a strong shift in the logic of the fight against
trafficking in human beings from “repression” to “prevention and protection”:
victims are no longer considered an “accessory” of the criminal proceedings but
people with rights. The EP is considering
working in the near future on a piece of legislation on access to legal aid,
an important element to ensure effective remedy for human rights violations. To
conclude the European Parliament also stressed the importance of strengthening
collaboration at EU level on labor inspections mechanisms that should be better
enforced in order to fight against labor exploitation. To learn more about
COMP.ACT click here.
* EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS / Judgement on right to family life
On 4 December 2012, the European Court of Human Rights issued a decision in the
case of Butt v. Norway (case no. 47017/09) and established that the deportation
of the applicants would constitute a violation of article 8 of the European
Convention on Human Rights (right to family life). The case concerned two
Pakistani nationals, brother and sister, who arrived in Norway in 1989 with
their mother and were granted a residence permit on humanitarian grounds. In
1999 their permits were withdrawn and they were refused to be issued with a
further residence permit in Norway. Relying on Article 8, the applicants
complained that their deportation to Pakistan would break the strong ties they
have with Norway, as they have lived in the country since they were young
children with their aunt and uncle and as they have very weak links to
Pakistan. The Court also granted the applicants just satisfaction amounting to:
EUR 15,000 for pecuniary damage; EUR 3,000 to each
applicant for non-pecuniary damage and EUR 20,000 for the applicants to cover
costs and expenses.
Source: HUDOC, 4 December 2012
National Developments
* CYPRUS / PICUM EVENT / “Migrants and the Right to Equal Treatment in
Cyprus"
Seeking to advance debate and inspire action regarding the long-term presence
and inalienable rights of third-country nationals in Cyprus, the Platform for
International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) and Action for
Equality, Support and Anti-Racism (KISA) joined several institutional and civil
society partners to host a one-day conference in Nicosia on 21 November 2012
ahead of the EU Equality Summit. Over 100 participants attended this important
discussion which underlined the systematic gaps and failures which prevent the
application of regionally and internationally recognised standards for migrants
in Cyprus. As underlined by Mr Aristos Tsiartas of the Cypriot
Anti-Discrimination Body "Because our migration system was established to
produce an exploitable and low income labour force, the Equality standards
imposed by the EU have, in practice, failed to respond to the challenges
existing in Cyprus.” Participants concluded that the
Cypriot government urgently needed to rethink its labour migration model; the
systematic exploitation, lowering of work standards, and undercutting of social
values, could only be reduced by guaranteeing equality and rights for the tens
of thousands of migrant workers on which the national economy relies.
Furthermore, it was vital that state officials, trade unionists, educators and
health providers work alongside the migrants’ rights movement to respond to the
realities of a society in which migration is a present and permanent reality. A
comprehensive workshop report providing a detailed overview of these
discussions and offering key recommendations are forthcoming. For more
information, please contact Eve Geddie (PICUM) at: eve@xxxxxxxxx or Doros
Polycarpolou (KISA) at: kisa_dorosp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
* FRANCE / French Ombudsman criticises harassment against migrants in
Calais
On 16 November 2012, French Ombudsman Dominique Baudis deplored the violation
of migrants’ rights at the hands of police in Calais and demanded the Minister
of Interior to address such violations. Mr Baudis received a complaint from
NGOs, collectives, trade unions and associations as regards to the constant
harassment migrants suffer at the hands of the PAF police (border police) and
the CRS (national police) in Calais. Following an investigation conducted by
the Ombudsman, Mr Baudis claimed that identity checks, arrest and detention of
migrants are often conducted by the same person and within a very short time,
and that this violates the provisions on humanitarian assistance of
undocumented migrants. Against this background, Mr Baudis recommended the
halting of these practices, to take action to identify the police officers on
the ground, and also called on the police not to overlook these issues. In
addition, he stated that he reserves the right to
conduct identity checks to ensure that both migrants’ human rights and legal
provisions are respected. Lastly, he addressed the Minister of Interior, Manuel
Valls to inform him he had a three month period to take action on the
aforementioned recommendations.
Source: 20 Minutes, 16 November 2012
* FRANCE / New circular on conditions for regularisation
The French Government released a circular on 28 November 2012 to clarify the
new conditions to regularise undocumented migrants in France. The circular
focuses on families and employed single migrants and establishes, as a general
principle, a five year-stay as a precondition to apply for regularisation.
Hollande’s Government has softened restrictive conditions implemented by former
president Sarkozy, reducing from five years to eighteen months of cohabitation
for irregular spouses to apply for regularisation. Another positive development
is the possibility for families to apply for regularisation even if both
parents are irregular, which was formally not the case. As for regularisation
based on employment, Algerians and Tunisians, who fall under a specific
residence permit provision, have been included in the schemes for the first
time; the list of professions has been cancelled; work permits will be valid
throughout the national territory; workers
will have the possibility to change their employers after one year; and
internships and part time position will be accepted. Lastly, this circular is
not limited in time, this providing the opportunity for irregular migrants to
meet at some point the requirements. Despite the aforementioned positive
developments, the circular was criticised for increasing the minimum time
period of schooling for children from two to three years before parents become
eligible to apply for a regular status. Another criticism lies on the
Government’s will to maintain the number of regularisations at no more than
30,000 per year. La Cimade has also expressed concern over the need for
undocumented migrants to pay a non-refundable amount of EUR 110 when making a
request for regularisation under this programme. The circular came into effect
on 3 December 2012.
Source: Observatorio de la diversidad, 29 November 2012; Ministère de
L’Interieur, 29 November 2012; Le Monde, 28 November 2012; La Cimade, 6
December 2012
* ITALY / “Click day” for permanent residence permit
Following the new decision of the mini Flows-Decree signed by Italian Prime
Minister Mario Monti, the date of 7 December 2012 was established as the ‘click
day’, giving the chance to 13,850 employees and self-employed workers to change
their legal status from temporary to permanent residence permit. The quote
includes the welcoming of a limited amount of new migrant workers. The decree
assigns quotes of incoming migrant workers to each region. Out of 13,850
permits only 2,100 are reserved to newcomers. About 100 permits are meant for
migrant workers of Italian descent (up to third grade) residing in Argentina,
Uruguay, Venezuela and Brazil. The majority of permits are destined to those
who, already based in Italy, have a temporary permit. It is mainly open to
highly skilled migrant workers such as internationally renowned artists,
managers, businessmen and freelancers. A more comprehensive Flows decree has
yet to be created.
Source: La Repubblica, 28 November 2012; La Repubblica, 4 December 2012
* NETHERLANDS / Dutch cities oppose criminalisation of irregularity
Dutch cities including Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht have
declared their opposition to criminalising irregularity. They fear that it will
only enhance the exclusion of undocumented migrants and thus these
municipalities have asserted that they will not actively search for irregular
migrants, despite the government’s suggestion. The cities also fear that the
situation will become especially difficult for those people that have an
irregular status in the Netherlands but are also not able to return to their
countries of origin.
Source: nrc.nl, 22 November 2012
* NETHERLANDS / Unsuccessful asylum seekers in encampment offer
petition to Parliament
A group of unsuccessful asylum seekers delivered a petition to the Dutch
parliament to ask them to search for a humane solution to the current
encampments existing in The Hague and Amsterdam (See PICUM Bulletin 24 October
2012 and 7 November 2012). They ask for the government to re-assess their cases
according to the most recent developments in their countries of origin, give
them access to shelter for asylum seekers, and have an expert scrutinise the
policy implementation. The asylum seekers from the camp in Amsterdam, which was
dismantled by the police, sought refuge in a church on 2 December 2012.
Following the occupation of the premises by the asylum seekers, the owner of
the church decided to set it up as a refuge for the winter months. With the
statement “We are here. No one is illegal.”, the group has put together a
website - www.devluchtkerk.nl - which will be used as a space to share
information, raise awareness and seek support.
Source: Nieuwsbank, 5 December 2012
Health Care
* GERMANY / Factsheet for doctors on care for undocumented migrants
The Bundesärztekammer (BÄK) (German Medical Association), in association with
Berlin Chamber of Physicians (Ärztekammer Berlin) and the office for medical
assistance for refugees (Buero fuer medizinische Fluechtlingshilfe), has
published a factsheet on providing medical care to undocumented migrants, as
well as information on how to handle such cases in view of the law and
reimbursement guidance. Citing ‘the Resolution on Medical Care for Refugees and
Internally Displaced Persons,’ adopted by the General Assembly of the World
Medical Association in 1998 in Canada, the authors emphasise the duty of
doctors to care for all patients regardless of their civil and political
status. The Hamburg Medical Association as well as the Saxon State Medical
Association have also published two brochures to support doctors whom are
having to deal with undocumented migrants seeking health care. The brochures
provide an outline of the law and provide the necessary
information so doctors can fulfil their duties more effectively.
Source: Aerzteblatt, 29 October 2012; Aerzteblatt, 14 November 2012;
Aerzteblatt, 4 December 2012
* SPAIN / Analysis on regions’ performance on health care provision
The organisation Medicos del Mundo (Doctors of the World) published an analysis
on healthcare provision for undocumented migrants across the regions on 28
November 2012, following the entry into force of the Royal Decree Act 16/2012
amending the Foreigners Act. In particular, the evaluation presents a regional
assessment on the first three months of the Royal Decree, distinguishing
between regions that (i) reject the implementation of the Royal Decree, take
action against it and provide alternative services to irregular migrants; (ii)
enforce the legislation but at the same time implement procedures to provide
medical access to irregular migrants that go beyond the minimum requirements
and (iii) that enforce the legislation. The assessment also claims that only
six regions out of seventeen have issued a circular on the new provisions, and
that these are shaped by heterogeneity and diversity in both the type of
content and depth of the information
provided. In addition to this, each health centre appears to be implementing
the legislation in a different manner, and also according to the criteria of
the administrative staff dealing first with the patients. The full analysis can
be accessed here.
Source: El País, 28 November 2012
* SPAIN / Health professionals launch a video on 101 proposals
Health professionals from Hospital La Paz in Madrid launched a video on 5
December 2012 providing 101 proposals to achieve sustainability within the
public health system, and thus challenging the Government’s policies and
actions on outsourcing, dismantling of medical facilities and charging one euro
per medical prescription. The group of health professionals claims that those
measures lead to increasing health costs and the enrichment of a select few.
Source: 20Minutos, 5 December 2012
* SWEDEN / Doctors highlight problems in accessing health care in
practice in Sörmland
In an article published in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, two health care
professionals, Frida Hansson, a doctor in Sörmland, and Thomas Flodin, from the
Swedish Medical Association, highlight the difference between access to health
care in law and in practice. The authors write that, although Sörmland County
Council issued a decision that asylum seekers and undocumented migrants should
receive equal access to health care as registered residents, the decision is
not applied in practice and challenged internally. New legislation that will
come into effect on 1 July 2012 will extend health coverage for undocumented
migrants to include ‘care that cannot wait’ on national level (see PICUM
Bulletins 15 November and 11 July 2012). The proposal states that county
councils can extend provision further. The authors argue that the problems in
practice on local level in Sörmland indicate the need for a clear national
policy for equal access to health care.
Source: dn.se, 6 December 2012
Undocumented Women
* PICUM EVENT / Women and Global Migration Working Group meet in Manila
Continuing its efforts to promote undocumented women’s rights at the global
policy level, PICUM as part of the “Women and Global Migration Working Group”
held a workshop on at the5th World Social Forum on Migration in Manila,
Philippines on 26 November 2012. A coalition of migrant women’s organisations,
trade unionists and faith-based groups, this working group carries out joint
campaigns and activities to make migrant women visible in international
policy-making arenas. The workshop on “Violence Against Migrant Women and the
Human Rights Framework” examined state accountability in light of international
agreements and human rights framework to prevent violence against migrant
women. Through a popular education format, participants identified that State
complicity in violence against migrant women not only refers to violent acts,
but also to the policies and conditions that force women to migrate, often in
very vulnerable situations. The
session also enabled participants to strategize how best to use international
human rights instruments for national and global advocacy to ensure the
protection and promotion of migrants rights. More information on the Women and
Global Migration Working Group is available online.
Undocumented Children and Their Families
* COUNCIL OF EUROPE / CALL / Training course for youth workers on
social rights of young people
The Council of Europe has opened a call for participants in a training course
for youth workers: “Enter! Long-Term Training Course for Youth Workers on
Access to Social Rights for Young People (2013-2014)”. This intercultural
training offers youth workers who undertake activities with young people that
experience disadvantages due to discrimination, exclusion, or violence, the
opportunity to gain insights into how the European level and engagement with
policy actors can support their efforts to empower young people, and, to
promote access to social rights for young people, in an effort of overcoming
the disadvantage young people face due to exclusion, violence and
discrimination. Application deadline is 20 December 2012. The training course
will take place from 11-21 March 2013 in Strasbourg, France. For more
information, click here.
Source: ENAR Weekly Mail 343, 30 November 2012
* NETHERLANDS / Report on undocumented migrant children studying in the
Netherlands
The organisation Kruispunt Migratie-Integratie, a Belgian PICUM member,
released the 'Infodossier Leerlingen zonder wettig verblijf' (dossier on
students without regular status) in October 2012. The dossier provides
information and answers to frequently asked questions to teachers, schools'
directors, inspection agents, schools' social workers and others, as well as
information on recent legal changes. The report raises the issue that under
Belgian law undocumented students have the same rights to education as national
children, and therefore they are entitled to receive a good education but that
often their migration status is a barrier which prevents them to access this
right. The dossier can be accessed here.
Source: Kruispunt Migratie-Integratie vzw, 26 November 2012
Detention and Deportation
* GREECE / Migrants’ uprising at detention centre of Komotini
The detainees of the detention centre in Komotini started an uprising on 23
November 2012, protesting against detention conditions and demanding their
freedom. The protest started in the morning when irregular migrants refused to
eat and then they carried their mattresses into the courtyard of the detention
centre, where they started burning them. Police forces surrounded the area and
used tear gas on the detainees, thus forcing them to return to their cells.
During the episode four policemen got injured by objects thrown by the
migrants, and they were transferred to the Hospital of Komotini. The police
arrested 55 detainees and impute them two felony offenses (prisoners revolt and
intended severe physical harm), and two misdemeanours (aggravated damage and
violation of the Arms Act) following the uprising. It is noted that over 500
migrants are detained at the detention centre in Komotini.
Sources: Kathimerini, 24 November 2012; Ethnos, 23 November 2012; Skai, 23
November 2012; Infomobile, 23 November 2012
* GREECE / Hunger strike of detainees and racist attack against
irregular migrants in Mytilini
Some of the irregular migrants who are detained at the police station of
Mytilini, in Lesvos island, started a hunger strike on 20 November 2012, in
order to protest against the degrading and inhuman detention conditions and the
long detention periods. Since summer 2012 the number of irregular entries of
migrants in Mytilini has significantly increased and the detention centre has
become overcrowded. As a result, many of the migrants are striving to survive
outdoors, ending up homeless in the parks and streets without any protection
against bad weather conditions. This has also left migrants vulnerable to
attack. A group of 25 new coming irregular migrants, including two pregnant
women and two children, were attacked in the night of 20 November 2012, while
they were sleeping at the port. A car stopped and its passengers started
throwing stones at them. One of the pregnant women received head injuries and
was transferred to the Vostanio Hospital of
Mytilini.
Source: Cladestina, 24 November 2012; Infomobile, 21 November 2012; Era –
Aegean, 21 November 2012
* GLOBAL / ‘End Child Detention Campaign’ launches international website
The Global Campaign to End Child Detention, which PICUM joined in March 2012
(see PICUM Bulletin 26 March 2012) is launching a new international website
that will help connect national campaigns from around the world. The new site
is online in English and Spanish on the occasion of the campaign activities in
Mexico, which took place in November 2012. The new website allows news posts in
English and Spanish, and they are also working to include Arabic and French
versions. For more information visit the website here.
* UN / Side event at DGD on the ‘Rights of All Children in the Context
of International Migration’
In the framework of the ‘Day of General Discussion (DGD) on the Rights of All
Children in the Context of International Migration’ (see PICUM News, 11
September 2012), The International Detention Coalition (IDC) organised a side
event entitled ‘Hear Our Voices - Children in Immigration Detention,’ providing
six children with a unique platform to share their personal experiences of
detention. The children performed a play called ‘Always Behind My Back’, using
art as a means of expressing their stories, showing very often traumatic
experiences such as abuse by the police. The presentation was produced with the
support of the Global Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children - a
campaign that was launched in March 2012 at the nineteenth session of the
United Nations Human Rights Council Session in Geneva.
Source: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 13
November 2012
Publications and other Resources
* BELGIUM / JRS launched its report on ‘No access to protection: the
reality for migrants in Algeria and Morocco’
Jesuit Refugee Service Europe (JRS), a PICUM member, has released a study based
oninterviews with migrants conducted by the Maltese journalist Andrea Galea
Debono in both Algeria and Morocco. Police raids and forced expulsions of
migrants are on the rise in Morocco, and migrants in Algeria are being pushed
to live in dilapidated housing. The lack of an asylum law in both countries
leaves too many migrants without access to refugee status and “the abuse of
migrants rights persist largely because the EU too often looks the other way”,
condemned the report. In Morocco JRS operates a project in Casablanca known as
SAM (Service Accueil Migrants), which provides basic services, education,
vocational training to migrant women and kindergarten services to children. For
more information on this event please see JRS website.
* IOM / New workshop reports published
In the context of its International Dialogue on Migration 2012, the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) brought together policymakers
and practitioners from over 80 countries in two workshops on ‘Moving to safety:
migration consequences of complex crises’, on 24-25 April 2012, and ‘Protecting
migrants in times of crisis: immediate responses and sustainable strategies’ on
13-14 September 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland. The former focused on
understanding migratory patterns caused by crisis and the latter looked into
devising a framework of policies and actions to address the situation of
migrants in crisis situations.
Other News
* ITALY / ‘Migrant cinema’ prize
The Mutti prize, established in 2008, is the only Italian prize dedicated to
cinema about migration. Since 2012 the prize has been sponsored in cooperation
with the ‘Archive of migrant memories,’ and comprises a new section, which will
allocates EUR 5,000 to the best film made about migration by a film maker
younger than 30. Moreover, EUR 15,000 is offered to a film making project by a
migrant film maker. The prize was presented in Rome on 21 November 2012.
Source: La Repubblica, 21 November 2012
* GREECE / "The silent humanitarian crisis in Greece”
PICUM together with i-RED Institute for Rights, Equality and Diversity, Greek
Council for Refugees, Doctors of the World Greece and Amnesty
International/Amnesty Greece organized a workshop entitled "The silent
humanitarian crisis in Greece: Devising strategies on national, European and
international levels to improve the situation of migrants in Greece” on Monday,
3 December, in Athens, Greece. This event brought together over 60
representatives from Greek civil society organisations, progressive
journalists, lawyers, social workers, researchers and citizen activists to
discuss the realities faced by migrants in Greece and to devise strategies to
improve the situation. An event report to be published in January 2012 will be
the basis for continued campaigns on national, European and international level
to raise awareness and call for commitments to ending impunity for the human
rights abuses against migrants in Greece and ensuring protections for
this group. The Bodossaki Foundation recorded parts of the event and have
posted the videos on their website, click here to view them.
Source: PICUM, 27 November 2012
* GLOBAL / TIME Magazine ’Person of the Year 2012’
Every year the TIME Magazine designates the ‘Times’ Person of the Year’. For
2012, one of the nominees is “undocumented immigrants.” This decision to
include ‘Undocumented immigrants’ results from the decision of Barack Obama on
15 June 2012 (See PICUM Bulletin 11 July 2012) not to deport up to 1 million
young people, under certain conditions. It is undeniable that Obama’s
announcement won him the support of the Latino population in his re-election
bid for Presidency. Even though it is the Time’s editors who make the final
decision concerning the “Person of the Year,” an online vote has been started
to give a chance to people to have a say on who they should think should be
awarded this recognition.
Source: TIMES, 26 November 2012; Huffington Post, 27 November 2012; America’s
Voice, 3 December 2012
* GLOBAL / Transborder Map 2012
The Network Noborder launched the Transborder Map on 17 November 2012. The
initiative is a map of resistance against the European Border regime. The map
documents the multitude of actions against the European Border regime and
includes key incidents of struggles from the last five years against the
background of the repressive European migration regime and its continuous
externalisation to the east and south. This regime is sketched on the back side
of the map. The map is a follow up of the Transborder Conference that took
place in Istanbul in March 2012. The map is available for download as a high
resolution here.
Source: Noborder Network, 17 November 2012
* MOROCCO / France 24 reportage on life of undocumented in Morocco
In its weekly programme called “A week in the Maghreb”, France 24 reported
about the life of undocumented migrants in Morocco. They affirmed that no
official numbers exist about Sub-Saharans undocumented migrants that try to
settle in Morocco or cross the country heading to Europe. Few services are
available to them and the residence card is difficult to obtain. Since July
2012 migrants have started to get organized in order to raise their voice and
claim their rights. Marcel Amyeto, Secretary General of the ODT-Migrant
workers, affirmed that their desire is to be able to work in the country and
contribute to the development of Morocco, while their rights should be
respected. To view the full report please click here.
* UK / Migrant Manifesto
As part of their new campaign 'Our Day: standing together for International
Migrants Day', Migrants’ Rights Network has released a video of the Migrant
Manifesto performed by poet and journalist Musa Okwonga. The objective of the
campaign is to bring together organisations working with migrants to show a
common stand in support of migrants, in view of International Migrants Day on
18 December 2012. To find out how you can get involved visit the campaign’s
website.
Source: MRN, 3 December 2012
* CALL / Volunteer compilers and translators
In order to maintain the production of its bi-monthly news bulletin, our
Quarterly newsletter and the PICUM website in seven languages (EN, FR, NL, DE,
ES, IT, PT), PICUM is looking for volunteer translators, proof-readers and
compilers. For translators, we are particularly interested in recruiting some
Dutch and French volunteers. Additionally, in order to continue providing
geographically balanced reporting, we are especially looking for compilers for
the Bulletin to report on news from Finland, Scandinavia, Portugal as well as
Central and Eastern European. If you are interested and have some experience on
the issue or in translation, we invite you to sign up to become a volunteer on
the PICUM website or to email at alex@xxxxxxxxx.
PICUM is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that aims to promote respect for
the human rights of undocumented migrants within Europe.
PICUM's bulletin is currently the only information source dedicated to
exclusively reporting on the situation of undocumented migrants in Europe.
Sign up for PICUM bulletin and follow us at CONTACT US
Rue du Congrès/Congresstraat 37-41, post box 5
1000 Brussels — Belgium
Google Map
Tel: +32 (0)2 210 17 80
Fax: +32 (0)2 210 17 89
E-mail: info@xxxxxxxxx
Website:www.picum.org
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