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EU must call on Italy to stop human rights violations of migrants and asylum-seekers in Lampedusa
EU Must Call on Italy to Stop the Human Rights Violations of Migrants and Asylum-Seekers in Lampedusa
(Brussels, 12 March) The EU must exert pressure on Italy to ensure that human rights are not being violated in Lampedusa, says Amnesty International as the Vice-President of the European Commission visits the Italian island tomorrow.
In a letter addressed to Mr Barrot (available here) Amnesty International expressed its concern about the treatment of asylum-seekers and migrants in Lampedusa following an ad-hoc decree issued by the Italian Ministry of Interior in January.
“Italy’s decision to detain migrants and asylum-seekers in Lampedusa for the duration of processing, rather than transferring them to the mainland has had a severe impact on their human rights” said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office.
“The current situation in Lampedusa hinders the EU’s construction of a genuine area of justice, freedom and security that is based on respect of fundamental rights” he added.
Amnesty International was recently granted access to the detention centres in Lampedusa. The organisation is concerned about the lack of access to fair asylum procedures, unlawful detention, inhuman conditions and lack of guarantees during the expulsion procedure.
In recent months there have been two fires and substantial overcrowding. Conditions in the centre fail to meet minimum standards set out in international human rights law.
The European Commission has rightly recognised the urgency of the situation. Mr Barrot must now examine whether new arrangements introduced by the Italian government are in violation of EU legislation and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
In order to stop the ongoing human rights violations in Lampedusa, Amnesty International calls on Mr Barrot to urge the Italian government to:
• re-establish the system of rapid transfers of migrants and asylum-seekers from Lampedusa for processing on the mainland, with full procedural guarantees and access to effective legal counsel
• ensure that expulsion procedures are carried out in full respect of asylum-seekers’ and migrants’ rights.
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