PUSHBACKS AND BORDER MANAGEMENT
Poland adopts law to allow pushbacks of migrants at borders
As Belarus has been encouraging migrants to cross into the EU in response to sanctions against the Lukashenko regime, Poland passed legislation that allows for push backs of migrants at its borders and for the construction of a border wall. The law further expands the powers of border guard agents: in particular, local Border Guard Chiefs can order people entering Poland irregularly to leave the territory. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, has called for immediate access of international and national human rights actors and media to Poland’s border with Belarus.
UK attempts to grant immunity to officials involved in pushbacks of migrants
A briefing published in October by Free Movement UK examines the UK attempts to legalise pushbacks of migrants by granting immunity to border officials who turn boats back to French waters. Currently, under British law and in accordance with international law, failing to rescue a “person in distress” at sea is a criminal offence. In parallel, there is an obligation to provide dignified treatment to people on board and bring them to a safe place, regardless of nationality or status. Recent media reports exposed how the Home Office was training British border officials in pushbacks tactics.
Frontex brought to European Court of Justice for illegal pushback in Greece
Two Dutch lawyers are taking Frontex to the European Court of Justice for the forced return flight of a Syrian family from Greece to Turkey in 2016. Hundreds of cases of illegal pushbacks have been documented in the past years in Greece, and another case had been brought against Frontex earlier this year, but this is the first time lawyers are seeking compensation. In October, in a webinar organised by Greens MEP Tineke Strik, the lawyers said they had already filed an internal complaint in 2017, where they highlighted that the family had been treated inhumanely, that they had been deported in the absence of a return decision, and that they lacked access to the asylum procedure. Frontex has failed to prove that they followed due diligence and has blamed Greece for the forced return.
UN agencies release new guide to anchor border governance in human rights
The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have launched a jointly developed guide to help states ensure border governance complies with human rights standards. The guide provides practical guidance for frontline border officials to carry out border operations in ways that respect human rights, and respond to situations of vulnerability, including when screening, interviewing, detaining and returning migrants.
PUSHBACKS AND BORDER MANAGEMENT
Poland adopts law to allow pushbacks of migrants at borders
As Belarus has been encouraging migrants to cross into the EU in response to sanctions against the Lukashenko regime, Poland passed legislation that allows for push backs of migrants at its borders and for the construction of a border wall. The law further expands the powers of border guard agents: in particular, local Border Guard Chiefs can order people entering Poland irregularly to leave the territory. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, has called for immediate access of international and national human rights actors and media to Poland’s border with Belarus.
UK attempts to grant immunity to officials involved in pushbacks of migrants
A briefing published in October by Free Movement UK examines the UK attempts to legalise pushbacks of migrants by granting immunity to border officials who turn boats back to French waters. Currently, under British law and in accordance with international law, failing to rescue a “person in distress” at sea is a criminal offence. In parallel, there is an obligation to provide dignified treatment to people on board and bring them to a safe place, regardless of nationality or status. Recent media reports exposed how the Home Office was training British border officials in pushbacks tactics.
Frontex brought to European Court of Justice for illegal pushback in Greece
Two Dutch lawyers are taking Frontex to the European Court of Justice for the forced return flight of a Syrian family from Greece to Turkey in 2016. Hundreds of cases of illegal pushbacks have been documented in the past years in Greece, and another case had been brought against Frontex earlier this year, but this is the first time lawyers are seeking compensation. In October, in a webinar organised by Greens MEP Tineke Strik, the lawyers said they had already filed an internal complaint in 2017, where they highlighted that the family had been treated inhumanely, that they had been deported in the absence of a return decision, and that they lacked access to the asylum procedure. Frontex has failed to prove that they followed due diligence and has blamed Greece for the forced return.
UN agencies release new guide to anchor border governance in human rights
The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have launched a jointly developed guide to help states ensure border governance complies with human rights standards. The guide provides practical guidance for frontline border officials to carry out border operations in ways that respect human rights, and respond to situations of vulnerability, including when screening, interviewing, detaining and returning migrants.