Statement of the International Migrants Alliance- Europe on the Anniversary of the Adoption of the EU Return Directive on the 18th of June
1. Memo on the 18 June – anniversary of the adoption of the EU Return Directive and the Campaign to Advance the Protection and the Rights of the Undocumented in Europe
2. Concept Paper on the Campaign to Advance the Protection and the Rights of the Undocumented in Europe
Uphold the Rights of Migrants and Refugees, Oppose Fortress Europe and the EU Return Directive
At the First Assembly of the European Section of the International Migrants Alliance in April 2012, we have committed ourselves to put a stop to the criminalization, detention and deportation of undocumented migrants and refugees working and residing in countries belonging to the European Union.
These repressive measures are direct results of the European Union Return Directive passed on 18 June 2008 by the European Parliament. It has now been transposed into national laws governing migration and asylum in the 27 EU states and have been enforced since 2010.
We oppose the EU Return Directive which seeks to criminalize the undocumented and subject to expulsion the 12 million undocumented migrants and refugees working and staying within the EU.
We denounce the unjust nature of the Directive which treats the undocumented as a criminal subjecting him to arrest, detention and deportation just because he is undocumented. By the stroke of a pen, the Directive criminalizes a human being who is trapped in a situation of being undocumented. However, we uphold that “No human being is illegal.”
We oppose the other onerous provisions of the Directive extending the detention period from 30 days to 18 months and prohibiting re-entry into the EU until after 5 years after deportation.
The EU Return Directive is the internal expression and extension of the Fortress Europe policies that has led to massive violations of the human rights of migrants and refugees on the external borders of Europe especially those coming from North Africa who have tried to cross the Mediterranean sea to seek refuge in Europe.
Wars and political conflicts have created a large number of refugees. The US-NATO led invasion of Libya and Afghanistan violated the independence and sovereignty of these countries, destroyed lives and property of the people, and caused massive dislocation of their population. It is reported that 50,000 refugees from North Africa have crossed the Mediterranean sea to seek refuge in Europe, fleeing from the imperialist wars and former dictatorial regimes. But they are not welcomed in Europe. Vividly reported in the media are the deplorable conditions of detention centers like those in Lampedusa and in Greece. Moreover, many young Tunisian men who landed in Lampedusa have ended up in the Italian Centres for Identification and Expulsion (CIEs). “With the bodies with which they crossed the sea they are now trying to jump over the cages where they have been locked up”, an ironic reception by the Italian state for the sons of the “Arab Spring” which celebrated the values of freedom and democracy.
We support the campaign of Tunisian families for the search for hundreds of missing Tunisian refugees who crossed the Mediterranean waters into Italy . They demand information from the Italian authorities over the whereabouts of their sons and daughters. Are they among those in the Centers for Identification and Expulsion? If they are, they demand urgent information and at the same time they cannot understand why detention centers and prisons await those seeking refuge in a European country.
We support the appeal of the father ( who personally made an appeal before the delegates at the IMA-Europe Assembly held in Rome in April 2012) of Karim Mbarki, a Tunisian refugee who is still missing after he sought refuge in Italy.
Moreover, we must not forget that the European Union is responsible for the documented deaths of 18,244 migrants and refugees since 1988.* The European Union has created a special border control agency called FRONTEX which guarded the external borders of Europe and forcibly pushed back boats of migrants and refugees from North Africa trying to cross the Mediterranean sea to seek refuge in Europe. Thousands died including women and children because of drowning, hunger, dehydration and disease. In 2011 alone, 1500 migrants died at sea.
We say:
NO to Fortress Europe!
NO to the EU Return Directive!
Uphold the Human Rights and Welfare of Migrants and Refugees!
Let us mark June 18 as a DAY OF SHAME on the anniversary of the adoption of the European Return Directive and a DAY OF REMEMBRANCE for those who died on the borders enroute to Europe to seek refuge, and for those who died in detention and deportation centers.
* According to Fortress Europe by Gabriele del Grande.
http://fortresseurope.blogspot.nl/2006/02/immigrants-dead-at-frontiers-…
For reference:
International Migrants Alliance- European Section
Secretariat
Email: ima.europe@gmail.com
Tel: 31 633056411
Issued: 15 June 2012
14 June 2012
Memo
Subject: 18 June – anniversary of the adoption of the EU Return Directive and the Campaign to Advance the Protection and the Rights of the Undocumented in Europe
At the First Assembly of IMA-Europe held in April 2012, we committed to expose the European Union Return Directive of the EU and put a stop to the criminalization, detention and deportation of undocumented migrants and refugees.
The EU Return Directive serves as the internal expression and extension inside the EU countries of the Fortress Europe policies of shutting down its external borders– policies which have led to massive violations of human rights on Europe's external borders.
You are enjoined to encourage migrant and refugee organizations and your own organization to hold local actions on 18 June as - A Day of Shame on the anniversary of the adoption of the European Union Return Directive and Day of Remembrance for those who died in detention, deportation centers, en route and in the borders of Europe.
Mobilize solidarity actions for the struggle of the undocumented in various European countries by sending solidarity message and staging solidarity picket before embassies where action is taking place.
Call on your own organization and other migrant and refugee organizations to join the Campaign to Advance the Protection and the Rights of the Undocumented in Europe. Distribute the concept paper of the campaign and facilitate their participation.
See attached:
1. Concept Paper on the Campaign to Advance the Protection and the Rights of the Undocumented in Europe
2. Statement - Uphold the Rights of Migrants and Refugees, Oppose Fortress Europe and the EU Return Directive
Many thanks for your attention.
Grace Punongbayan
IMA-Europe
Secretary-General
Noted by: Luz Miriam Jaramillo, Chairperson, IMA-Europe
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Concept paper CAMPAIGN TO FURTHER ADVANCE THE PROTECTION AND THE RIGHTS OF THE UNDOCUMENTED IN EUROPE
I.Introduction
The IOM (International Organization of Migration) estimates that there are more than 3 million undocumented in the Europe. Other researchers put the number as between 4-7million.This is apart from those who are detained in borders and entry points.
Poverty, joblessness, low wages, wars and ecological disasters will increased the number of undocumented in Europe and those who suffer in detention camps and deaths in borders.
In Europe, the trend is towards criminalizing and restricting the rights of the undocumented. The rise of rightwing anti-migrant political parties goaded by their mass media is stirring hatred and racist attacks
on migrants particularly the undocumented. For the migrants and the undocumented, their situation is moving from bad to worst.
A sign of hope is the struggle of migrants, the undocumented and their allies to uphold their human dignity, human rights and for justice. They hold protest actions, hunger strikes/fasting, rallies and demonstrations and conduct lobby work. They boldly tell their stories of suffering and hope through individual and mass actions, songs, poems, plays, etc.
There is a continuing need to further empower the undocumented , expand their platform, increase their visibility and voice toward recognition of their dignity, human rights and contribution to society.
The CAMPAIGN TO FURTHER ADVANCE THE POTECTION AND RIGHTS OF UNDOCUMENTED IN EUROPE seeks to establish a network of undocumented campaigns in Europe for mutual support, higher level of visibility, coordination and impact.
I. Objectives
1.To consistently and systematically put into the European human rights agenda the plight of the undocumented and the need for their protection
Activities
A). Conduct information drive on”-Knowing, Claiming and Asserting Your Rights as Undocumented”
B).Share information on the rights of the undocumented in each European country
C). Call for the Ratification of the UN Convention on the protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families
2. To put a stop to the criminalization, detention and deportation of the undocumented
Activities
A). Mobilize solidarity actions for struggle of the undocumented in various European countries by sending solidarity message and staging solidarity picket in embassy where action is taking place
B). Hold coordinated Europewide mobilization on the occasion of:
1). DAY OF SHAME on the anniversary of the adoption of the European Return Direction (June 18, 2008) and DAY OF REMEMBRANCE for those who died in detention/deportation centers, enroute and in borders
2). A DAY OF CELEBRATION for the adoption on 18 December 1990 the UN Convention on the protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and to celebrate the advances in the campaign for undocumented rights
3.To establish a network of organizations of undocumented and their advocates for mutual solidarity
A). Collate stories of Suffering, Struggle and Hope of Undocumented (written and video) as a way to
give human face and voice of the undocumented
B). Establish and strengthen a network of organizations of undocumented and their allies
-have a webpage
C). Facilitate the organization of undocumented and their alliances
4. Linkup the European campaign and network with other global regions (Asia-Pacific, NorthAmerican, Middle East, Africa)
II. Timeframe: 3 years (2012-1015)
III. General Calls
1.NO to criminalization, Detention and Deportation, YES to Regularization!
2.EXPOSE/OPPOSE the EU Return Directive, RATIFY the UN Convention on Migrant Workers!
3.UPHOLD Rights of Undocumented!
4. STRENGTHEN the network and solidarity of local/national campaigns for Undocumented!
5. LINK the European campaign to the global campaign!
(note: local calls can complement the general calls)
III. Guiding Principles
1.The undocumented are empowered to achieve their dignity and rights through the process of awareness building (conscientization), self-organization and mobilization. The undocumented are the principal actors for their own liberation from exploitation and repression.
2. The issue of forced outmigration and the criminalization of undocumented is a human dignity, justice and human rights issue.
3. The struggle of the undocumented contributes to the struggle of the workers and all exploited and oppressed.
4. Through their labor and remittances, the undocumented contributes to country of work and origin
5. On the basis of their strength they establish alliance and working relationships with human/migrant rights advocates
6. Those in the network maintain their autonomy and are in unity with all others by adhering to the objectives and activities of the campaign
III. Campaign Phases
1).Preparatory
A). Circulation of the Draft Campaign concept paper towards achieving consensus on the objectives, activities and implementation mechanism
B). Open webpage
-information of actions calling for solidarity and activities of those in the network
-information re the campaign activities
-action alert notification
C) Implementation
IV. Campaign Mechanism
1.Organization of an European Campaign Committee
A). IMA-Europe as Secretariat and webpage manager.
IMA Europe, Postbus 15687, 1001 ND Amsterdam,NL
email: ima.europe@gmail.com By: International Migrants Alliance –Europe