Brussels, 23/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - European human rights organisations have had to face considerable obstacles to their activities in favour of fundamental freedoms on European territory, the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) said on 19 June. The organisation's report for 2009 states that, while the obstacles that human rights defenders have had to face in the countries of western Europe are not systematically present as in other regions, such obstacles, which are sometimes more insidious and hidden, have nonetheless been regularly noted. On the question of migration, the European Parliament's adoption of the “returns” directive on 18 June 2008 and the European immigration and asylum pact have contributed to making stricter policies lawful and making illegal immigration a criminal offence. The methods most used to deter and hamper the activities of those defending human rights in western Europe are still acts of violence, threats and harassment by the law, not only by public authorities but also by private companies in order to seek to silence any criticism, FIDH regrets. By way of example, it notes the increased number of obstacles to the defence of migrants' rights, especially in France, Spain and Ireland, leading in some cases to making assistance to foreigners in an unlawful situation a criminal offence. Furthermore, hostility by law enforcement forces against NGOs defending migrants has increased as irregular migrants have been taken back to the border by aviation means. These people are often forced by the police to leave the aircraft, sometimes placed in detention, if not prosecuted. The FIDH document goes on to say that, European governments which claim to be seeking a balance between freedom and security have sometimes in recent years developed initiatives which restrict the rights of individuals, e.g. electronic surveillance, increased number of computer files on individuals, etc. Using enhanced protection of public order as a pretext, the right to privacy continued to come under threat in France in 2008, due to the attempt to set up the EDVIGE index, which should allow the police to centralise and analyse information relating to individuals, groups, organisations and legal entities who, due to their individual or collection activity, are likely to jeopardise public order. In Italy, human rights defenders denouncing the adverse consequences of action by mafia groups on fundamental freedoms have been subject to intimidation and brought into disrepute. Such was the case of Roberto Saviano, who works as a journalist with the daily La Repubblica, and who is author of the book Gomorra. Obstacles to freedom of association have also been noted in Ireland. On 11 December 2008, the Seanad (Upper House of the Irish Parliament) voted against an amendment to the new draft law on the “Charities Bill” suggested by opposition senators, which aimed to include the promotion of human rights in the objectives of this kind of organisation. The obstacles to the fundamental freedoms of defenders of the rights of lesbians, gays, bi- and transsexuals (LGBT) also continued in 2008. In Lithuania and Latvia in particular, the proximity of the State and the Church and the influence of religion on civil society promoted a generally hostile climate towards those defending the rights of LBT. (B.C./transl.jl)