ECRE and UNHCR in a joint collaboration assess the ‘future of asylum in Europe’
28 Oct 2019

ECRE and UNHCR in a joint collaboration assess the ‘future of asylum in Europe’

by | posted in: Asylum Seekers, Dublin Regulation, ECRE, EEPA news and activities, European Politics, European Union, Libya, Refugees in the EU, UNHCR | 0

On October 23 and 24, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) in a joint collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) held its annual conference on the topic of ‘The Future of Asylum in Europe: Assessing and Capitalising on Changes at EU Level’. Keynote speakers agreed that refugees and migrants should be more involved in EU policy-making, as their stories should be told. Speakers also stated that disembarkation should be on EU soil, since the deal with Libya is contravenes all principles of human rights. The future of asylum in Europe was discussed and views on the EU agenda brought forward.

News Highlights: UNHCR’s operation in Libya investigated, Operation Sophia extended, First evacuations from Libya to Rwanda
4 Oct 2019

News Highlights: UNHCR’s operation in Libya investigated, Operation Sophia extended, First evacuations from Libya to Rwanda

by | posted in: Asylum Seekers, Deportation, EASO, EEPA news and activities, Eritrea, European Union, Frontex, Germany, Horn of Africa region, IOM, Libya, Operation Sophia, Refugee Camps, RSF, Rwanda, Sudan, UNHCR, Weekly news highlights | 0

In this week’s news highlights: UNHCR in Libya accused of neglect and mismanagement in 4-part investigation; First group of people evacuated from Libya to Rwanda; Returnees flee after arrival in Libya; IOM urges closure of Tajoura detention centre; New Country of Origin Information on Eritrea confirms no change in human rights; RSF accused of pressuring the European Union; Bad conditions at Shagarab Camp in Sudan; Belgian and Eritrean Catholic Church representatives meet in Belgium; Three Jehovah’s Witnesses imprisoned for 25 years in Eritrea; Operation Sophia continues for an additional six months; Two people die in a fire at Greek refugee camp; Greece calls for help from other EU member states and Frontex; and Germany strengthens random checks at borders.

Petition and letter to free five Eritrean refugees detained in Egypt after peaceful protest
7 Aug 2019

Petition and letter to free five Eritrean refugees detained in Egypt after peaceful protest

by | posted in: Africa, Asylum Seekers, Detention, Eritrea, UNHCR | 0

Letters by Human Rights Concern Eritrea and Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights ask for the immediate release of five detained Eritreans in Cairo, Egypt. The five were arrested on July 21, 2019, and are held in an undisclosed location without access to legal representation. The detained are part of a group of around 500 Eritreans who demonstrated peacefully against alleged mismanagement and corruption by Cairo’s UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) office. Their trial is set today (7 August 2019).