In a statement issued on Monday – on the first day of the Council of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers meeting in Luxembourg – Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, called on the European Union to “to steer migration policy on to a more humane and human rights compliant path”.
“The welcome introduction of a disembarkation and relocation mechanism must not result in the expansion of Member States’ actions that may lead to the return of people rescued at sea to places where they face serious human rights violations”, writes the Commissioner, who, at the same time, calls for “suspending any co-operation activities with the Libyan authorities that impact on interceptions at sea and result in returns to Libya” until “guarantees of full human-rights compliance are in place”.
The success of a disembarkation and distribution mechanism will largely depend on the participation and support of as many countries as possible”, she stressed, calling for a “long-term and more ambitious system that eases the pressure on certain member states - like Italy, Malta and Greece”, whilst “upholding the human rights of all migrants, in particular as regards fair and effective asylum procedures, guarantees of non-detention, adequate reception conditions, safeguards for family unity, and fair expulsion proceedings for those not found in need of protection”.
Other “crucial steps”: expanding search and rescue capacity, providing safe and legal routes, “co-operating constructively with NGOs”. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)