[colombiamigra] PICUM Bulletin - 2 December 2013
- From: "Elisabeth Schmidt-Hieber" <elisabeth.schmidt-hieber@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <colombiamigra@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2013 17:32:27 +0100
Please find below PICUM’s latest bulletin on undocumented migration.
http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445/
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445/>
Print <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445?print> | WEB
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445>
PICUM — The Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants
<http://picum.org>
PICUM Bulletin - 2 December 2013
· Borders
· United Nations
· European Policy Developments
· National Developments
· Health Care
· Labour and Fair Working Conditions
· Undocumented Women
· Undocumented Children and Their Families
· Detention and Deportation
· Publications and other Resources
· Other News
Borders
· BELGIUM / Three survivors of boat tragedy file complaint against
Belgian army <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42408>
Three survivors of a shipwreck in 2011 that caused the deaths of 63 migrants in
the Mediterranean Sea, filed a complaint at the Brussels Tribunal of First
Instance against the Belgian army on 26 November 2013 for failing to provide
assistance. In a dinghy coming from Libya and carrying a total of 72 people,
they tried to reach Europe in 2011. The migrants started to panic when they
lost control of the boat and did not have enough food left. Their calls for
help were registered but they received no assistance despite being seen by
naval vessels and helicopters of various states. During and in the aftermath of
the Arab Spring, in the framework of NATO’s Operation Unified Protector off the
Libyan shores, waters were under NATO control and reportedly closely monitored
by military forces of several states. The complaint was lodged with the support
of a coalition of NGOs with similar initiatives being underway in other
countries. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe published a
report focusing on the case on 29 March 2012 ‘Lives lost in the Mediterranean
Sea: Who is responsible
<http://assembly.coe.int/CommitteeDocs/2012/20120329_mig_RPT.EN.pdf> ’.
Source: Agence France Presse
<http://www.la-croix.com/Actualite/Monde/Les-survivants-d-un-drame-en-Mediterranee-portent-plainte-contre-des-pays-de-l-Otan-2013-11-26-1066794>
, 26 November 2013
· BULGARIA / Government to get tougher on irregular migrants
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42409>
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Tzvetlin Yovchev
presented a plan for a tougher policy towards irregular migrants. The planned
measures include significantly shorter time periods for removal of irregular
migrants, increased security on the Bulgarian-Turkish border through greater
numbers of police, the construction of a 30-kilometre fence and the
construction of closed facilities. According to human rights organisations, the
conditions in these facilities are similar to or worse than those in prisons.
Moreover, police raids will be carried out in locations frequented by refugees
and migrants. The government’s goal is to reduce the number of people entering
the country irregularly by three times and at the same time expel three times
as many people from Bulgaria. Human rights activists are concerned that the new
measures may lead to police harassment and social exclusion of all migrants.
Meanwhile, anti-migrant sentiment was also expressed by citizens during three
protests in early November in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The protests were
organised by different political, nationalist and football fan groups,
including a parliamentary party. The protestors carried signs and called for
taking matters into their own hands and “cleansing the country from the
immigrant scum”. The formal cause of the protests was the attack on a
20-year-old Bulgarian woman, allegedly by an undocumented migrant from Algeria.
Sources: Capital
<http://www.capital.bg/politika_i_ikonomika/bulgaria/2013/11/04/2175129_kabinetut_podgotvia_vtvurdiavane_na_politikata_kum>
, 4 November 2013; Press release of the Ministry of Interior
<https://press.mvr.bg/en/News/news131104_01.htm> in English, 4 November 2013;
Dnevnik
<http://www.dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2013/11/03/2174063_ataka_shestva_iz_sofiia_sreshtu_prishulcite/>
, 3 November 2013
· DENMARK / Undocumented migrants disappear
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42410>
About 100 migrants entering Denmark from outside the Schengen area through
Copenhagen airport disappeared in 2013. Common practice is to register these
migrants as asylum seekers and send them by taxi to the Sandholm asylum centre.
During this taxi journey, however, more and more migrants are vanishing. At the
moment only names are registered upon entry. The director of the Copenhagen
police has publicly promised more comprehensive registration of asylum seekers
including taking photos and fingerprints. Several parties outside the
government have commented that the issue in question can be attributed to the
government’s lack of control over immigration in the airports.
Source: Dagbladet Information <http://www.information.dk/telegram/478912> , 18
November 2013
· GREECE / Alliance of the southern EU border countries
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42411>
In view of the Greek EU presidency in the first half of of 2014, the Greek
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras started discussions with his counterparts in
Italy and Malta on a common approach towards irregular migration. He argued
that undocumented migrants cause socio-economic problems and instability and
called for measures to be taken. The three prime ministers called for a more
concrete European strategy in order to address irregular migration. Antonis
Samaras underlined that the strengthening of Frontex and repatriation of
undocumented migrants are the key points at this stage. Finally, he stated that
effective management of irregular migration will be a positive step towards the
exit of Greece from the economic crisis.
Sources: Kathimerini
<http://www.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_kathremote_1_22/10/2013_524176> ,
22 October 2013; News.in <http://news.in.gr/greece/article/?aid=1231270059> ,
21 October 2013; Zougla.gr
<http://www.zougla.gr/greece/article/kini-drasi-eladas---italias-gia-tin-paranomi-metanastefsi>
, 22 October 2013
· ITALY / EU to urge Libya to prevent traffickers from smuggling
migrants <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42412>
Italy urged the EU on 11 November 2013 to press Libya to prevent traffickers
from smuggling migrants from Africa on overcrowded boats to the EU. The call
came three days after Sicilian investigators arrested a man for kidnapping,
extortion and rape of some of the Eritreans migrants who survived the shipwreck
tragedy near the island of Lampedusa on 3 October 2013 where about 360 people
died. Malta backs Italy’s efforts and is preparing to send a military vessel to
Libya to patrol the coast and prevent boats carrying migrants from departing,
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.
Sources: Reuters
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/11/11/uk-italy-migrants-libya-idUKBRE9AA0LB20131111>
, 11 November 2013; Reuters
<http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/08/us-italy-migrants-slavery-idUSBRE9A70QL20131108>
, 8 November 2013
· SPAIN / Spanish authorities intercept more than 3,200 undocumented
migrants in six months <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42413>
The results from the 9th edition of Operation Indalo
<http://frontex.europa.eu/operations/archive-of-operations/CMMcoZ> , have shown
that Spanish authorities have intercepted up to 3,248 undocumented migrants and
148 vessels that tried to reach the Spanish coast. This operation is managed by
the Guardia Civil (national Spanish police) and funded by the European Border
Agency (Frontex). The results also contain data on traffickers and drug
smuggling that could be used to tackle these issues. The operation involved
3,200 hours of maritime vigilance and 500 hours of aerial surveillance that
also included the support of authorities from Morocco, Algeria and ten other
European countries. According to the head of the Guardia Civil, there are three
points that are under pressure in the Mediterranean: the western point that
affects Spain; the central zone that covers the island of Lampedusa and the
eastern border of Greece.
Source: Europa Press
<http://www.europapress.es/sociedad/noticia-espana-intercepta-seis-meses-mas-3200-inmigrantes-irregulares-20131101100335.html>
, 07 November 2013
· REPORT / PRO ASYL report on the witnesses of push-backs at the
Greek-Turkish border <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42414>
The human rights organisation PRO ASYL published a report based on 90
interviews of people who have tried at least once to cross the south-eastern
external European borders with Turkey and have allegedly been victims of
illegal push-backs and ill-treatment at the hands of Greek authorities.
The report accuses masked Greek officers of ill-treating migrants and refugees
upon apprehension, detaining them arbitrarily on Greek soil without any
registration and then deporting them back to Turkey or even abandoning them in
Turkish territorial waters without any consideration for their safety, in
breach of international law. Witnesses reported being forced and even
threatened with guns to return to Turkish waters and claimed to have been left
in life threatening situations when left adrift in unseaworthy boats or being
thrown in the water. The majority of the interviewees claimed that they had
been ill-treated and the severity of some of the reported ill-treatment could
amount to torture. They finally reported that after being rescued by the
Turkish authorities, they were arrested and detained in Turkey. The report ends
with an interview of two French journalists who reported having posed as
Afghans and underwent a push-back and the same ill-treatment as migrants and
asylum seekers. You can access the report here
<http://www.proasyl.de/fileadmin/fm-dam/l_EU_Fluechtlingspolitik/pushed_back_web_01.pdf>
.
United Nations
· OHCHR / Information sheet on trafficking in human beings
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42415>
In the frame of a series of information sheets on human rights issues, the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has
published a one-pager on trafficking in human beings
<https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6XUJ0SW4C68a0tPLVR2SkhCSjQ/edit?pli=1> . The
one-pager provides data on forms of trafficking and groups of victims of
trafficking as well as outlining human rights treaties and decisions relating
to the prevention and fight against trafficking in human beings.
Source: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
<http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/CivilSociety.aspx> , November 2013
· UN / New ratifications and guide on the CRC complaints procedure
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42416>
Portugal and Montenegro have become the seventh and eighth states to ratify the
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on a
complaints procedure on 24 September 2013. Two more ratifications are needed
for the treaty’s entry into force. In the meantime, 44 States in total have
signed the Optional Protocol
<http://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-d&chapter=4&lang=en>
. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Violence
against Children has also launched a child-friendly guide to the CRC’s
complaints procedure entitled: ‘Raising Understanding among Children and Young
People on the Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure’. The guide
<http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/sites/default/files/children_corner/RaisingUnderstanding_OCPC_singlepage96px.pdf>
aims to raise children’s awareness about their rights and enhance their
confidence to speak up and seek support. The Child Rights International
Network, CRIN, has produced a toolkit explaining how the complaints procedure
works, including an annotated and a comparative guide to other international
communications procedures of the UN. The toolkit is
available in English
<http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?ID=30734,%20French%20http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?id=31635>
, Arabic <http://www.crin.org/arabic/resources/infodetail.asp?id=30841> , and
Russian <http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=31555&flag=report> .
Source: Child Rights Information Network CRINMAIL 28
<http://www.crin.org/email/crinmail_detail_popup.asp?crinmailID=4917> , 18
October 2013
European Policy Developments
· COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION / Debate on migration issues in the
Mediterranean <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42417>
Following the EU Council meeting on 24 and 25 October 2013 in Brussels,
ministers debated migration issues in the Mediterranean on 18 November 2013.
They spoke in favour of a comprehensive approach with Libya to tackle irregular
migration in the Mediterranean. This includes more cooperation with and
assistance to the Libyan government to secure its borders and reduce
trafficking in human beings. Through the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM
Libya), the EU aims to contribute to the capacity building of the Libyan border
authorities. At the same time, the EU agreed on a mobility partnership with
Tunisia which is expected to be signed officially soon. The mobility
partnership foresees cooperation on migration and asylum and that the EU will
deal with the challenge of the death of migrants at sea. The EU previously drew
up an agreement of this type with Morocco in June 2013. The European Council of
June 2014 will return to asylum and migration issues in a broader and longer
term policy perspective.
Sources: Council of the European Union Foreign Affairs,
<http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/139633.pdf>
Press Release, 18 November 2013; ANSA
<http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/economics/2013/11/18/Immigration-EU-sign-agreement-Tunisia_9639945.html>
, 18 November 2013
· COUNCIL OF EUROPE / “The right to leave a country” - new paper by
Commissioner for Human Rights
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42418>
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, published
on 5 November 2013 an issue paper on the right to leave a country, including
one's own, guaranteed in Article 2 of Protocol 4 to the European Convention on
Human Rights. The paper highlights barriers to the fulfilment of this right,
such as restrictive migration and border control policies or travel bans
imposed by Council of Europe member states. The issue paper also explores the
negative impact on the effective realisation of the right to leave a country
due to the increasing externalisation of EU border control policies through
mandatory visa requirements and readmission agreements with third countries.
The paper concludes by recommending states to ensure that their laws, policies
and practices relating to migration and border controls are compliant with the
right to leave a country and the international human rights framework and abide
by the principle of non-discrimination. The Issue Paper is available in English
here
<https://wcd.coe.int/com.instranet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=2392927&SecMode=1&DocId=2079134&Usage=2>
.
Sources: Council of Europe
<https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=2123865&Site=DC&ShowBanner=no&Target=_self&BackColorInternet=F5CA75&BackColorIntranet=F5CA75&BackColorLogged=A9BACE>
, Press release CommDH033(2013), 6 November 2013; European Voice
<https://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/eu-slammed-over-migration-policy/78635.aspx>
, 7 November 2013
· EU / Court backs asylum rights for homosexual people
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42419>
The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in Luxembourg ruled on 7 November 2013
that lesbian and gay people can seek asylum in the EU if they risk being jailed
in their home countries. The Court also ruled that 'voluntary discretion' of
sexual identity is no longer an acceptable rationale for rejecting asylum
claims based on persecution grounded in sexual orientation. This ruling places
the obligation on national authorities to fully and accurately assess the
credibility of asylum claims based on sexual orientation. The case was brought
by three gay men from Senegal, Sierra Leone and Uganda. They sought refugee
status in the Netherlands fearing that they would be persecuted in their home
countries because of their sexuality. Homosexuality is illegal in more than 30
African countries, with punishments ranging from death to severe or lighter
jail sentences. To read the judgment, click here
<http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=9ea7d2dc30dbec0e65f148e742c5855fb30ad84f8e5a.e34KaxiLc3qMb40Rch0SaxuMahj0?text=&docid=144215&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=509256&utm_source=CJEU+Discretion+Ruling+Press+Release_2013-11-07&utm_campaign=East+Bay+Reception+Invitation+9%2F11&utm_medium=email>
.
In a similar case, Belgium was condemned by the European Court of Human Rights
(ECtHR) for illegally detaining an asylum seeker from the Republic of
Guinea-Bissau who had fled his country for reasons connected with his sexual
orientation.
Sources: EU Observer <http://euobserver.com/news/122026> , 8 November 2013; La
Libre
<http://www.lalibre.be/actu/belgique/la-belgique-condamnee-a-payer-5-000-euros-a-un-demandeur-d-asile-5285dc5c3570ea593dbbc9ab#.UoeCskd-YhU.facebook>
, 16 November 2013
National Developments
· GERMANY / Lampedusa in Hamburg
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42420>
With the slogan ‘We are here to stay!’ the initiative ‘Lampedusa in Hambur
<http://lampedusa-in-hamburg.tk/> g’ organises protests asking the Senate of
the city of Hamburg to recognise a group of about 360 migrants as refugees of
the NATO war in Libya in 2011. The migrants are of Sub-Saharan origin and lived
in Libya as working migrants until the NATO bombing in 2011. Most of them
arrived on the Italian island Lampedusa and were asked to leave for Germany by
Italian authorities which felt overwhelmed by the large number of migrant
arrivals and ask other EU member states to take responsibility. The initiative
Asylum in the Church <http://www.kirchenasyl.de/> in Hamburg has provided
shelter to about 100 of the migrants. The initiative supports similar programs
in Berlin and Frankfurt. According to Pastor Fanny Dethloff of Asylum in the
Church in Hamburg, those migrants who arrived before April 2013 can achieve a
toleration of stay and suspension of deportation (‘Duldung’) on an individual
basis. However, the protest movement favours a right to stay for all and cases
of threats against those who opted for individual procedures have been
reported.
Source: Spiegel
<http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/hamburg-hat-drei-optionen-mit-lampedusa-fluechtlinge-umzugehen-a-931955.html>
, 7 November 2013
· GERMANY / More racist attacks against migrants, asylum-seekers and
Roma <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42421>
In the past three months, eight attacks have been recorded on facilities for
asylum seekers and on a house and a cultural centre for Roma. These attacks are
accompanied by intensified racist campaigns against asylum seekers and
refugees. Many observers of the situation are reminded of the conditions that
prevailed in the early 1990s in Germany when more than 25 people died as a
direct result of neo-Nazi attacks. Organisations such as the refugee-rights
organisation Pro Asyl call for solidarity with the people affected by such
agitation and attacks.
Sources: Mut gegen rechte Gewalt
<http://www.mut-gegen-rechte-gewalt.de/news/chronik-der-gewalt/todesopfer-rechtsextremer-und-rassistischer-gewalt-seit-1990/>
, 20 October 2013; Pro Asyl
<http://www.proasyl.de/de/news/detail/news/rassistische_hetze_gegen_fluechtlinge_nimmt_zu/>
, 24 October 2013
· MALTA / Citizenship for 650,000 euros
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42422>
The Maltese Parliament approved new citizenship legislation on 12 November 2013
which enables foreigners to buy a Maltese passport without any residency or
investment requirements for 650,000 euros. According to Prime Minister Joseph
Muscat, the program's goal is to raise revenue for the country and attract
"high-value" people who will ensure investment. Nationalist lawmakers announced
they would consider a petition drive to force a referendum to repeal the law.
Joseph Muscat recently called on the EU to take action to relieve Malta of the
burden of migrant arrivals and has been criticised for allowing the selling of
citizenship to the rich.
Source: Spiegel online
<http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/malta-passes-bill-giving-citizenship-to-foreigners-for-payment-a-933360.html>
, 13 November 2013; Malta Independent
<http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-11-09/news/government-could-net-150-million-a-year-from-iip-3131670549/>
, 9 November 2013
· NETHERLANDS / The European Committee of Social Rights invites the
Dutch government to take all possible ‘immediate measures’ to ensure the basic
needs of undocumented migrants
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42423>
Following a request for ‘immediate measures’ submitted by the Conference of
European Churches in order to ensure undocumented migrants have access to
shelter, food and clothing in the Netherlands and ‘to safeguard their human
dignity and prevent further harm’, the European Committee of Social Rights on
25 October 2013 invited the Dutch government to take ‘all possible measures
with a view to avoiding serious, irreparable injury to the integrity of persons
at immediate risk of destitution’ and ‘ensuring that their basic needs
(shelter, clothes and food) are met’. The Conference of European Churches
initially requested the suspension of the Dutch ‘Linkage Act’ which excludes
undocumented migrants from accessing basic social services. Although that
request was rejected, the Committee recognised the duty of the Dutch government
to find alternative solutions which do not exclude irregular migrants from
access to facilities relevant to the fulfillment of their basic needs. The
decision of the Committee can be accessed here
<http://picum.org/picum.org/uploads/file_/NL%20decision%20on%20immediate%20measures.pdf>
.
· UK / Immigration spot checks at railway stations
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42425>
According to the UK’s Minister for Immigration, Mark Harper, immigration spot
checks will be continued at railway stations. These checks were carried out in
the London area on 30 July and 1 August this year and had led to the arrest of
17 people for irregular stay. A pilot operation, Operation Vaken, took place
between 22 July and 22 August 2013 in six London boroughs to test different
ways to encourage irregular migrants’ return to their country of origin. This
included mobile billboards highlighting the risk of arrest, postcards in shop
windows, adverts in newspapers and magazines, leaflets and posters advertising
immigration surgeries in faith/charity group buildings. Mark Harper announced
in a statement
<http://www.dodsmonitoring.com/downloads/WMS/WMS_2013/Oct_31_2013/WMS4.pdf> on
31 October 2013 that the government will continue its promotion of departure
schemes. The efforts have been criticised and the Equality and Human Rights
Commission said it would examine the powers used and their "justification".
According to the UK Home Office, there have been 228 immigration street
operations since 2008.
Source: BBC <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24987927> , 19 November 2013
Health Care
· DENMARK / Protest against deportations of mentally ill asylum seekers
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42426>
The revelation of increased deportations of asylum seekers with severe health
problems has triggered a public debate about the justification of deportations.
On 1 November 2013, protesters took to the streets of Copenhagen with signs
around their necks saying ‘I am mentally ill, let me stay in Denmark’. Among
them were medical practitioners and lawyers who daily witness the deportations
of victims of torture and violence diagnosed with severe mental illnesses.
Availability of medication in the respective home countries has served as
grounds for deportation. The speeches held on the day of the protest indicated
the traumatic effects the return to countries of origin has on the migrants in
question.
Source: Sameksistens
<http://www.sameksistens.dk/nyhed/article/hoejlydte-protester-mod-udsendelse-af-alvorligt-psykisk-syge-asylansoegere/#.UnT0QMRxvCM.facebook>
, 2 November 2013
· UK / Limitation of access to healthcare for migrants
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42427>
Following the results of the public consultation initiated on 3 July 2013 on
Access to Health Services for migrants, the UK Home Office aims to introduce
and add charges. Temporary and non-EEA migrants will be required to pay for
health services. Moreover, asylum seekers, people with refugee or humanitarian
protection status and trafficked persons will in addition to regular charging
be obligated to pay an immigrant surcharge and apply for leave if entering or
remaining in the UK. The new restrictions on healthcare access for migrants are
at odds with the findings of the consultation, as 69% of respondents did not
feel that access should be based on permanent residence.
Source: Migrants’ Rights Network
<http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/news/2013/report-public-consultation-access-healthcare-migrants?utm_source=Migrants+Rights+News&utm_campaign=a4b4fc2c51-MRN_News_4-11-2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1084a7080c-a4b4fc2c51-217249373>
, 4 November 2013
Labour and Fair Working Conditions
· REPORT / Exploitation of migrant workers in Finland, Sweden, Estonia
and Lithuania <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42428>
The European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the
United Nations (HEUNI) published the report “Exploitation of migrant workers in
Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania: Uncovering the links between
recruitment, irregular employment practices and labour trafficking” on 24
October 2013. This publication is a compilation of four independent research
reports commissioned under the umbrella concept of ADSTRINGO
<http://www.heuni.fi/Satellite?blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobcol=urldata&SSURIapptype=BlobServer&SSURIcontainer=Default&SSURIsession=false&blobkey=id&blobheadervalue1=inline;%20filename=Adstringo%20info%20sheet.pdf&SSURIsscontext=Satellite%20Server&blobwhere=1381175315355&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&ssbinary=true&blobheader=application/pdf>
. The ADSTRINGO project addressed trafficking in human beings for labour
exploitation through improved partnerships, enhanced diagnostics and
intensified organisational approaches. The report, a compilation of recruitment
practices in both countries of origin and destination, provides new information
on the vulnerabilities, factors, methods and channels that facilitate
exploitation. Moreover, the report aims to improve the current level of
knowledge in the Baltic Sea region regarding exploitative recruitment practices
that may lead to trafficking as well as the roles and responsibilities of
employers in preventing such exploitation. The full report is available here.
<http://www.cbss.org/civil-security-the-human-dimension/tfthb/>
Source: Council of the Baltic Sea States
<http://www.cbss.org/heuni-report-exploitation-of-migrant-workers-in-finland-sweden-estonia-and-lithuania-uncovering-the-links-between-recruitment-irregular-employment-practices-and-labour-trafficking/>
, 24 October 2013
Undocumented Women
· ISRAEL / Unauthorised abortion clinic suspected of trafficking
undocumented women’s babies
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42429>
An illegal abortion clinic in south Tel Aviv that may have also trafficked
newborn babies was raided on 15 November 2013 by Tel Aviv police and Border
Police who were accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Health. A Tel
Aviv couple were taken in for questioning; their apartment and food store
reportedly served as delivery rooms where undocumented women were brought near
the end of their pregnancies. Media reported that the store was used for
performing abortions on foreign women with no legal standing in Israel, who
feared being incarcerated or questioned if they went to state-run health
clinics for care. Over 3,000 miscarriages inducing pills were reportedly found
at the clinic. The couple was also suspected of trafficking newborn babies to
other, childless migrant families in south Israel, and of extorting large fees
from the adoptive parents. In Israel, female migrant workers who become
pregnant are likely to lose their residence permit. Once in an irregular
situation, they are only entitled to essential, emergency care in hospitals.
Physicians for Human Rights, a Tel Aviv-based humanitarian organisation, works
to provide the community with free or low-cost care.
Sources : Haaratz <http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.558314> , 16
November 2013; The Times of Israel
<http://www.timesofisrael.com/couple-questioned-for-running-illegal-abortion-clinic-for-migrant-women/>
, 16 November 2013
Undocumented Children and Their Families
· CYPRUS / Migration department accused of mistreatment of migrant
families <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42430>
The Cypriot Ombudsperson, Eliza Savvidou, and the Child Commissioner, Leda
Koursoumba, have highlighted a number of cases in which the migration
department has left teenagers to fend for themselves after detaining both
parents, or have deprived children of at least one parent on charges of
marriages of convenience lacking evidence. The latter was the case when a
three-year-old girl was deprived of her Bulgarian mother and Pakistani father
because the migration department claimed the couple’s marriage is one of
convenience despite a DNA test proving paternity. In another case, a
15-year-old Chinese girl lived alone because her parents were held in detention
in Menoyia awaiting deportation. Leda Koursoumba called on the state, which is
ultimately responsible for the migration department’s policies, for a
comprehensive policy to ensure that measures involving children are in
accordance with children’s rights.
Source: Cyprus Mail
<http://cyprus-mail.com/2013/11/10/families-split-as-parents-detained/> , 10
November 2013
· GERMANY / Authorities accused of issuing passports with wrong birth
dates <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42431>
A group of 13 young migrants from Somalia who arrived in Germany unaccompanied
claim to be below the age of 18 and have accused authorities of issuing their
papers with birth dates that make them adults under German law. Being
considered of legal age, the young asylum seekers are accommodated in refugee
homes for adults with little assistance whereas children below the age of 18
would usually be placed in child welfare facilities. Some of the young asylum
seekers showed their birth certificates from Somalia to the authorities in the
federal state of Brandenburg which, however, were allegedly not recognised.
Authorities have denied responsibility for the case. Through the help of local
activists, the child protection service was informed but could not help either.
According to the Federal Association for Unaccompanied Minor Refugees
(Bundesfachverband unbegleitete Minderjährige Flüchtlinge, BUMF), the child
protection service is responsible for the young asylum seekers if they claim to
be under age, regardless what their actual age is. The group continues their
struggle to be recognised as children.
Source: Taz <http://www.taz.de/Asylbewerber-in-Brandenburg/!127801/> , 19
November 2013
· UK / Response to new immigration bill
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42432>
The Children’s Society in the UK presented a briefing to the Prime Minister,
David Cameron, in response to the UK’s new immigration bill. The Children’s
Society is extremely concerned that the proposed changes will further isolate
vulnerable children and young people who are already at risk of homelessness,
exploitation and exclusion by creating additional barriers to vital services
including healthcare and housing. Among the proposals are restrictions to
access to free primary and secondary health care for undocumented migrant
children and the requirement to private landlords to check the immigration
status of tenants. Furthermore, the Bill has failed to consider the best
interests of the child within its proposal around Article 8 of the European
Convention on Human Rights on the right to respect for his private and family
life. This right can be a crucial element in resolving a child’s immigration
status, including in cases concerning undocumented migrant children, the
majority of who were born in the UK or arrived when they were very young.
Source: The Children’s Society
<http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/briefing_on_immigration_bill_2r_22_10_13.pdf?dm_i=LM5,1Z233,4QTOZX,73DWX,1>
, Policy Newsletter, 14 November 2013
Detention and Deportation
· GREECE / Court condemns detention of child
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42433>
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) condemned Greece in the case Housein
v Greece <http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-127231#{>
concerning the detention of the 11-year old Ali Hussein from Afghanistan. The
court ruled that Greece violated his right to liberty when detaining him in an
adult facility for about two months. His lawyer had submitted an objection to
the unacceptable conditions of his detention and requested his transfer to a
special detention centre for unaccompanied minors. This was rejected by the
Greek courts which issued a decree for the continuation of his detention under
the same conditions. The ECtHR ruled that detention conditions violated Article
3 ECHR on the prohibition of degrading treatment, as well as Article 9 ECHR on
the freedom of religion as the Muslim boy was allegedly forced to choose
between eating pork or going hungry.
Sources: Asylum Information Database
<http://www.asylumineurope.org/news/25-10-2013/greece-condemned-detention-unaccompanied-children>
, 25 October 2013; Enet.gr <http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=394393> ,
24 October 2013
· GREECE / Hunger strike and case of death in detention
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42434>
Approximately 400 detainees at the Komotini detention centre, located east of
the city of Thessaloniki, refused to eat on October 24 and 25 and three sewed
their mouths shut in a symbolic protest at the poor living conditions in the
detention centre. The protest started when the detained migrants were not given
personal hygiene products. A few days before, on 20 October, a 25-years-old
Pakistani migrant died in the detention centre of Dendia in Xanthi, in
northeastern Greece after falling from his bunk bed. According to the police,
the detainee was transferred to the closest hospital but it was too late to
save him. Insufficient medical care and the lack of basic safety measures and
hygiene conditions have frequently been criticised.
Sources: theinsider.gr
<http://www.theinsider.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31062%3A2013-10-24-16-34-58&catid=3%3Asociety&Itemid=41>
, 24 October 2013; antiracismfascism.org
<http://www.antiracismfascism.org/index.php/2013-09-08-22-14-42/frontex> , 20
October 2013
· ISRAEL / Cabinet approves bill allowing detention of undocumented
migrants up to one year <http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42435>
The cabinet on 10 November 2013 approved an amendment to the bill dealing with
irregular migrants mandating that the state can detain them for up to a year
without trial in closed-door detention centres, and for a much longer period in
other, more open, facilities. The decision follows an earlier version of the
bill, which called for keeping migrants in closed detention centres for up to
three years without trial. The bill also provides for the construction of an
“open” detention centre that will only be locked at night. However, the
detention centre is foreseen to be located in the desert which would limit the
possibilities for migrants to move around freely. The bill requires migrants in
the detention centre to register three times per day and bars them from seeking
outside employment. Migrants’ rights organisations criticised the new
amendment, saying it was just as unconstitutional as the version that was
struck down by the High Court.
Sources: The Times of Israel
<http://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-move-to-detain-migrants-for-a-year-without-trial/>
, 17 November 2013; The Jerusalem Post
<http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Cabinet-approves-bill-allowing-detention-of-illegal-migrants-for-one-year-331992>
, 17 November 2013
· RESEARCH / New set of working papers on immigration detention
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42436>
The Global Detention Project has issued a new set of working papers that aim to
provide innovative perspectives on the practice, dynamics and consequences of
immigration detention. The paper ‘The Hidden Costs of Human Rights: The Case of
Immigration Detention
<http://www.globaldetentionproject.org/publications/project-publications/hidden-costs.html>
’ by Michael Flynn explains how immigration detention has impacted some key
human rights norms, which has helped spur states to adopt new institutions
dedicated to this practice. The paper ‘"Crimmigration" in the European Union
through the Lens of Immigration Detention
<http://www.globaldetentionproject.org/publications/project-publications/crimmigration.html>
’ by Izabella Majcher shows how the convergence of criminal and immigration
laws can have a harmful impact on migrants, ranging from increasing negative
attitudes about non-citizens to more restrictive immigration policies. The
third paper entitled ‘Smoke Screens: Is There a Correlation between Migration
Euphemisms and the Language of Detention?
<http://www.globaldetentionproject.org/publications/project-publications/smoke-screens.html>
’ by Mariette Grange explores how language used to describe people moving
across borders can have consequences on their well-being, including limiting
their access to legal procedures.
Source: Global Detention Project
<http://www.globaldetentionproject.org/about/about-the-project.html> , October
2013
· UK / Court ruling to keep dying detainee in custody
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42437>
The Nigerian Ifa Muaza, placed in the Harmondsworth immigration removal centre,
has been on hunger strike for almost three months. After his asylum claim was
rejected, he started to refuse food. In October, his medical condition was
considered too critical for him to remain in detention. The High Court,
however, ruled that he will have to stay in custody and the Home Office issued
an “end of life plan”. The 45-year-old Nigerian applied for asylum on the basis
of persecution by the Islamist group Boko Haram, recently recognised as a
terrorist organisation by the US. He has commented on his own hunger protest
that he would rather die than go back to Nigeria. While his solicitor has
publicly called the ruling a death sentence, a Home Office spokesperson has
refused to talk about individual cases.
Source: The Guardian
<http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/19/asylum-seeker-hunger-strike-stay-custody-death-nigeria-muaza>
, 19 November 2013
Publications and other Resources
· ITALY / ‘An Inhuman Cost’
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42438>
After the launch of their campaign ‘I diritti non sono un costo’ (Rights are
not an expense), the Italian NGO Lunaria released ‘An Inhuman Cost
<http://www.lunaria.org/2013/07/15/costi-disumani-on-line-la-sintesi-in-inglese/>
’, a study involving a detailed comparison between the public resources
invested to control irregular migration, and those allocated to promoting the
integration and social inclusion of third-country nationals. The report
presents an analysis of the costs of controlling irregular migration through
detention, border controls, the externalisation of borders and forced removals.
The report reveals that, between 2005 and 2012, Italy spent more than 117
million euros on policies aimed at managing migration, 95% of which (i.e. more
than 112 million euros) was invested in measures to combat irregular migration
and only 5% of the overall amount was dedicated to measures aimed at migrants’
integration and social inclusion. An English summary of the report is available
here <http://www.lunaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Inhuman_cost.pdf> and
the full text of the report is available in Italian here
<http://www.lunaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/costidisumani-web_def.pdf> .
Other News
· FILM / Undocumented journalist produces film about own experience
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42439>
Jose Antonio Vargas, a former Washington Post journalist of Filipino origin who
revealed that he has been undocumented since childhood, has made a documentary
about his experience. ‘Documented’ retraces his migration from age 12 when his
mother put him on a plane to California. He learned he didn't have immigration
papers when he was 16. For the film, Vargas sent a camera back to the
Philippines to interview his mother, whom he hasn't seen in 20 years. The
broadcast rights for the documentary will be sold to CNN Films. The documentary
will be broadcast in the US in the spring of 2014 but also shown in theatres
starting at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam from 20
November to 3 December 2013. Mr Vargas cannot attend the festival as he cannot
leave the US. The journalist, filmmaker, and founder of an advocacy group
called Define American which campaigns for immigration reform was part of a
team which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for their coverage of the Virginia
Tech shooting. To find out more about ‘Define American’ and watch the trailer
of ‘Documented’, click here <http://www.defineamerican.com/> . To view Jose
Antonio Vargas’ blog, click here <http://joseantoniovargas.com/> .
Source: Star Tribune <http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/232495011.html> , 19
November 2013
· GERMANY / Law students counsel migrants
<http://picum.org/en/news/bulletins/42445#news_42440>
Law students of the University of Gießen are supporting refugees, migrants and
asylum seekers through ‘Refugee Law Clinics’. Paul Tiedemann, judge at the
administrative court in Frankfurt, initiated the program to allow students to
gain practical experience along with theoretical training. Many of the students
who take part in the program are migrants themselves. They provide counseling
on the procedure of asylum applications and prepare candidates for their
hearing at the Federal Authority for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für
Migration und Flüchtlinge).
Source: Spiegel online
<http://www.spiegel.de/unispiegel/studium/uni-giessen-jurastudenten-bieten-rechtsberatung-fuer-asylbewerber-a-924155.html>
, 15 November 2013
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.
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