AYS News Digest 8/3/23: International Women’s Day
MEPs concerned for ‘European Values’ in Greece // Snow in Northern France // Proposed law change UK — again // Appeal against detainment of the Geo Barents // Violence Reporter’s Guide from BVMN
FEATURE
“Let’s celebrate we all are strong #resilient women leaders, embrace ourselves, #embraceequity, from us to all, today and the rest of the year”. Anila Noor — MD New Women Connectors
The 8th March is celebrated globally as a moment to recognise the achievements and contribution of women. As part of the celebrations, it’s impossible to ignore the ongoing inequality, persecution and discrimination that affects women and girls around the world, and at Europe’s borders.
The stories of three women from Iraq and who are long-term residents of the EU-funded Ritsona Camp in Greece display the agony of waiting for decisions, facing rejections, more waiting. Health issues only worsen in such circumstances, and support from the Greek State is non-existent.
Women and girls face illegal pushbacks at the borders every day, at the hands of paid authorities. Loss of life occurs at land and sea borders, but to find freedom they have to flee. EU authorities have expressed sympathy with women and girls in Afghanistan who are denied the right to education and the right to work, who are suppressed, yet they do nothing to assist.
ECRE calls on the EU to provide safe routes for all people to find freedom.
“We should not talk about women on the move, but listen and amplify their voice, break the imposed silence.”
To mark International Women’s Day, No Name Kitchen have released further designs in their fair trade, organic range which raises funds for their work.
GREECE
MEPs concerned for ‘European Values’
Following a visit of a delegation from the Civil Liberties Committee, MEPs expressed concern that Greece violates human rights, lacks freedom of media and is failing to tackle corruption. During the visit “the Prime Minister, government ministers, police representatives, the Supreme Court Prosecutor and other officials were unavailable or refused to meet.”
You can read more about the “threats to the rule of law”, with emphasis on the treatment of journalists, at the original Press Release, and this press conference specifically talks about pushbacks, the treatment of NGOs and discrimination in law enforcement for LGBT, Roma people and women.
137 The visit comes as stats were released detailing 137 people being pushed back from Lesbos in one week.
A BBC documentary with Greece’s migration minister Notis Mitarachi is available to watch here.
FRANCE
Snow in Northern France
As the weather is far from spring-like, the harsh conditions for people sleeping rough in Calais and around are clear.
This longer read details how people, including an eight-months pregnant woman, are sleeping in a car park in Paris.
There will be a demonstration of solidarity at the France-Italy border on 18th March. Details here.
UNITED KINGDOM
Proposed law change — again
There is to be yet another change to how people are treated if they arrive in the UK by small boat. The proposed changes would make it impossible for anyone arriving this way to claim asylum, instead being detained, deported and banned from the country.
The plan is against the law.
“The 1951 Refugee Convention, an international treaty to which the UK is a party, expressly prohibits penalising asylum seekers and refugees on account of their irregular entry.” Human Rights Watch
Groups have immediately pointed out the flaws in the plan. The UK currently has no agreements with third countries which would enable deportations (the Government has stated that there will be no flights to Rwanda until 2024), and, according to international law, such a country would need to be deemed ‘safe’.
Neither does the plan really seek to prevent people smugglers from profiting, it is glaringly obvious that safe and legal routes to claim asylum would do this — it is political maneuvering to disguise Government failings in other areas. The reduced time that people have may in fact increase prices and cause people to attempt more dangerous crossings to arrive before any change.
SEA and SAR
Appeal against detainment of the Geo Barents
The MSF rescue vessel remains detained by Italian authorities. As reported in the previous Digest, the ship has been in the port of Augusta, Sicily since 20th February. An appeal was lodged with the court in Rome against the detention and 10,000 Euro fine, which was a direct result of the new Italian degree, reported on here.
The cessation of operations is likely unlawful and is putting lives at risk. Since the start of this year, an average of 10 people per day have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, 80 people remain in distress off the coast of Malta. Neither Maltese or Italian authorities have responded.
GENERAL
The Border Violence Monitoring Network (to which AYS belongs) has issued a guide for people involved in identifying and reporting when people have been tortured. It’s available here.
WORTH READING
MSF: Update on Bangladesh — the World Food Programme has cut food rations for Rohingya people in Cox’s Bazar.
Blog Post — Dunkirk Eviction from a volunteer with Roots
Greek authorities steal millions — but it’s even more than we think. — Following the detailed report by Soloman and El Pais, Koraki argues that the reality is even worse.
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