Amnesty International
MEDIA ADVISORY
Photo opportunity and spokesperson availability for 24 & 25 October European Council: Migration
(Brussels, 22 October 2013) Ahead of this week’s European Union (EU) Council in Brussels, Amnesty International is urging EU and member states’ leaders to fundamentally change European migration policy. The urgency comes after the Lampedusa tragedy and ever rising death toll in the Mediterranean. To underline and symbolise the need for the EU to act now to save lives, there will be an Amnesty International visual display outside the European Council on Schuman roundabout (Brussels) on 24 and 25 October (during the Council). Amnesty International’s migration campaign co-ordinator, Carmen Dupont will also be available for interviews.
Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers will continue to make dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean to Europe to escape conflict and human rights violations. EU and member states must do more to prevent further loss of life. Instead of focusing resources on closing off borders, search and rescue capacity must be increased, safe routes for refugees to Europe must be created, and migration control cooperation with countries flouting human rights obligations must stop. Now is the time for action!
For further information and interviews, please contact:
For further information on Amnesty International's positon on EU migration policy, please see:
Letter to President Van Rompuy for the European Council: Europe Must Act Now to Save Lives of Migrants and Refugees
Public Statement: Time for action: Three things the EU must do following the Lampedusa tragedy
Report: SOS Europe – Human Rights and Migration Control
Amnesty International European Institutions Office Website, Facebook & Twitter
Amnesty International ‘When You Don’t Exist’ campaign Website, Facebook and Twitter