Brussels, 21/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) has added its signature to that of many other Tunisian civil society organisations to a statement denouncing the draft “mobility” agreement between the EU and Tunisia. On 3 March, the two sides signed a memorandum committing them to beginning negotiations on this theme.
Like the other organisations, the FIDH “denounces a mobility partnership that puts increasing emphasis on a security policy that seeks to prevent migrants and refugees reaching the European Union: the externalisation of responsibilities, integrated border management, the signing of a readmission and cooperation agreement with many EU agencies”, including Frontex.
The FIDH affirms that “far from attempting to ensure protection of the most vulnerable sections of society, these measures contain risks to fundamental rights, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, the right to seek asylum and the right of everyone to leave a country, including their own”. (FB)