SAR operations by NGOs: new report inverts the relation of causality and clarifies role of NGOs

During the last months the NGOs that conduct the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean have been at the centre of a political and media storm.The report by Forensic Oceanography assesses that a toxic rhetoric has been created where the only victims are the NGOs, and most importantly no concrete evidence has been found in this “criminalization campaign”.The report goes beyond, and addresses not only the accusation of collusion in smuggling per se, but rather it challenges the assumptions reinforcing this accusation.

News Highlights: Infringement proceeding for relocation, new report on Eritrea, Sudan starts trial against human rights activist

In this week’s news highlights, the European Commission triggers procedures for sanctions against Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary on relocation quotas; a new report was published on human trafficking in the Horn of Africa; UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea releases a new report and holds an interactive dialogue in the 35th session of the Human Rights Council; and South Sudanese president Kiir refused to attend a regional summit on South Sudanese security issues.

News Highlights: Last warnings on relocation, UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, new report on Libya

In this week’s news highlights, the European Commission gives last warnings to the Visegrad countries on relocation quotas, the number of people crossing the Mediterranean Sea continues to drop and Italy announces funding for food security in Eritrea; Civil society organisations ask for the renewal of the mandate UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea; a new Eritrean community starts in Switzerland and a new report was published on ill-treatment of migrants in Libya.