18/12/2012 – During the past decade, the public debate in Italy on migration from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East has been characterised by stigmatization of immigrants by the media and politicians, and shaped by increasing xenophobic sentiments among the general public. Against this background, the Italian government has linked immigration control with public security, reinforcing the public perception that the country’s security is threatened by an uncontrollable wave of dangerous “clandestine” migration.

28/11/2012 – Several thousand migrant Roma are estimated to be forcibly evicted from informal settlements and squats each year across France.1 In most cases, entire families are left homeless, often with either no offer of any alternative housing or only a temporary and inadequate solution provided. Forced out of their homes, these families often find themselves living in increasingly precarious situations. These forced evictions generally take place without adequate prior information, consultation or notice to residents. French law does not allow people to enforce their human right not to be subjected to forced eviction.

20/11/2012 – In a new briefing, Bahrain: reform shelved, repression unleashed, Amnesty International highlights the growing human rights crisis in Bahrain and urges the authorities to abide fully by the findings of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), established by the country’s authorities to investigate abuses during the 2011 anti-government protests.

13/11/2012 – Despite well-documented evidence of abuse, the EU has resumed talks with Libya on migration control, and Italy, seemingly oblivious to Libya’s human rights record, in April signed an agreement with Libya “to curtail the flow of migrants”.

12/11/2012 – The plight of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Libya