AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA ADVISORY
23 September, 2016
Balkans route summit: Refugees should be protected, not pushed back
• Spokespeople for available for comment
Ahead of a high-level migration summit in Vienna this weekend, Amnesty International is calling for refugee protection to be prioritised by European leaders.
“With 60,000 people stranded in appalling conditions in Greece, European leaders should be taking effective measures to resolve this humanitarian crisis rather than reinforcing borders. What is needed is a humane response based on sharing responsibility for the protection of people fleeing war and persecution,” said Iverna McGowan Head of the Amnesty European Institutions Office.
“Fences, asylum caps, push-backs will do nothing to stop asylum seekers from trying to flee conflict and violence. What Europe needs is political leadership capable of offering a humane response based on solidarity.”
Amnesty Austria will partake in a protest of Plattform für eine menschliche Asylpolitik, (Platform for human asylum policies) at: Löwelstraße 12, Vienna between 13.00 and 15.00 on Saturday 24 September
BACKGROUND
On Saturday 24 September the Heads of Government of Austria, Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Croatia, FYROM, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, the President of the European Council, the European Commissioner for Migration as well as the Interior Minister of Romania will attend “Summit, Migration along the Balkan route” in Vienna.
For information or an interview contact: Heinz Patzelt in Vienna on +43-6642696800