By John Dalhuisen, Europe Director at Amnesty International

Given the strains that the main hosting countries are under, there is a risk that without sufficient support from the international community they will no longer be willing or able to continue to give adequate protection and assistance to Syrian refugees. Countries with the means to do so, including Europe, must provide sufficient funding to deal with the refugee crisis.

31/10/2013 – Almost one third of Syria’s population have fled their homes. More than 2 million are refugees living outside Syria – mostly in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt – and 4.25 million individuals are displaced internally in Syria. They have fled widespread violence and human rights abuses, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Italy’s housing policies are just another example of the discrimination that Roma people suffer across the EU, with their rights to adequate housing, education and sanitation often being shamefully compromised. It is appalling that, even in the area of social housing allocation, Roma are treated like second class citizens

It is shameful that the EU’s six million Roma still face systematic discrimination, and are often targets of racially motivated violence. Lithuania now can and must ensure that the expected Council recommendations on Roma integration measures tackle discrimination and guarantee Roma participation at all levels of decision-making

29/10/2013 – In July, Amnesty International issued recommendations as to how the Lithuanian EU presidency might maximise its potential to promote human rights both within and beyond EU borders.

The Council conclusions on migration painfully show that the expressions of sadness and solidarity were nothing more than crocodile tears. Europe’s priority clearly is not to save lives or to protect people along the borders. Instead it is to prevent people from arriving in Europe at all costs, even if those people are in need of safety and protection. 

25/10/2013 – In view of your participation in the upcoming European Parliament (EP) delegation to Laos on October 28,we call on you to maintain your efforts to secure the safe return of prominent Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, a victim of enforced disappearance.