EU war on ‘illegal immigration’ puts human rights at risk

With the theme: “No trade off between human rights and security”, Amnesty International’s Annual Report documents human rights abuses across the world for the year 2001, including extrajudicial executions in 47 countries, judicial executions in 27 countries, “disappearances” in 35 countries, torture and ill-treatment in 111 countries and prisoners of conscience in at least 56 countries.

Speech by Amnesty International:

As Justice and Home Affairs Ministers begin their last Council meeting tomorrow before the Laeken EU summit, Amnesty International has issued a final plea to ensure that security is not achieved at the expense of the human rights the EU seeks to safeguard.

On the eve of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Irene Khan, in Brussels for talks with EU policy-makers, issued a strong appeal for the European Union to take a global lead in efforts to protect human rights in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks.

Security and refugee protection: the human rights agenda for the Laeken Summit and Appeal by Amnesty International

In the lead-up to this week’s series of extraordinary EU meetings to discuss anti-terrorism measures, including tomorrow’s special Justice and Home Affairs Council, Amnesty International has outlined its concerns over the potential of these new measures to infringe basic human rights.

At this crucial time, with global tensions running high, Amnesty International in Brussels today launched an appeal to EU leaders to show greater moral and political leadership to safeguard the international protection of refugees. The appeal coincides with this week’s Justice and Home Affairs Council (27-28 th September) which is due to discuss key issues regarding the EU’s asylum procedures.

“This is the first-ever package of legally-binding EU asylum and immigration measures to be decided by EU ministers, and it is shocking that out of all these measures, the one concerning refugees represents a step backwards,” said Dick Oosting, Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office.

As EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers prepare to meet in Brussels, Thursday (15 March), Amnesty International warns that measures against illegal immigration to be discussed at their meeting may breach the international human rights commitments of EU Member States.