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A reinforced Frontex agency, EU turns a deaf ear to NGO’s warnings
22 September 2016 - More powerful than ever and enjoying complete impunity, the EU border management agency has a new name with a reinforced mandate. The European Union has indeed opted for an increase in the means allocated to deportation, control and external cooperation activities, with no regard for the rights of migrants and refugees.
French Human Rights League co-initiates a petition "stop to multinational companies’ impunity"
12 September 2016 - The French Human Rights League (LDH) in collaboration with other French associations has launched a petition encouraging France and the European Union to support the establishment of a UN treaty on the respect of human rights by multinational companies.
Turkey - Academics for Peace - Call for solidarity
In January 2016, 2,218 scholars from Turkey signed a petition titled “We will not be a party to this crime” also known as the Peace Petition. Since then the signatories, the “Academics for Peace” have been subject to heavy pressure and persecution. Hundreds of them have faced criminal and disciplinary investigations, custody, imprisonment, or violent threats. Several academics have been dismissed or suspended, some were forced to resign or leave the country. The situation have continued since the failed coup attemp on July 15, 2016.
AEDH is recruiting a financial / administrative officer and a fundraising / development officer
Read more and apply as soon as possible !
ILMR’s Carl von Ossietzky Medal 2016 to SOS Méditerranée and the documentary photographer Kai Wiedenhöfer
September 6, 2016 - The Board of Trustees of the International League for Human Rights is announcing that the Carl von Ossietzky Medal 2016 will be awarded to SOS Méditerranée and Kai Wiedenhöfer for their courageous Human Rights activism. “Their extraordinary commitment has raised awareness for the desperate situation many refugees face today and the circumstances that have caused the search for asylum and migration”, the Board stated in their decision.
Turecký výjimečný stav a my
Petr Uhl - 06.08.2016 - Turecko musí být demokratickým právním státem. Požaduje to i skupina významných evropských a tureckých občanských spolků, jejichž společné prohlášení zde zveřejňujeme spolu s výpravným komentářem Petra Uhla.
Joint declaration on the state of emergency in Turkey
5 August 2016 - EuroMed Rights, AEDH, FIDH, IHD and HRFT express deep worries over the state of emergency declared in Turkey for a period of three months following the July 15 coup d’état attempt in which hundreds of civilians, soldiers and police officers lost their lives.
Newsletter n° 287 - July 2016
Take a look at AEDH latest newsletter and keep up to date with European news !
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Situation of Roma children in the European Union, an unacceptable denial of fundamental rights
25 July 2016 - On 1 July 2016, the French State and its local authorities were definitely sentenced by the Tribunal of opinion on the violations of the rights of Roma children in France for infringement of the rights of Roma children. Despite the fact that the act has mainly a symbolic dimension and does not impose a penalty, the tribunal confirmed its opinion of June 2015 on the violations of Roma children’s rights.
Proposal of the European Commission on CETA: “one step forward, two steps backwards”?
25 July 2016 - On 5 July, the European Commission proposed signature and conclusion of EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, better know as CETA, as “mixed” agreement. Thus, the agreement is to be ratified both by the European Union (EU) and the parliaments of every Member State. However, there is still some concern about the possibility of a provisional application of CETA that would be applied before national parliaments have a chance to deliberate on it
Green light given to a common list of « safe » countries of origin
25 July 2016 - The regulation proposal to establish a common European Union (EU) list of safe countries of origin has finally been approved by the LIBE of the European parliament on 7 July 2016. AEDH, EuroMed Rights and the FIDH’s warnings concerning the concept of “safety” and the lists of “safe countries” – which contradict the right of asylum -, and the joint call for the rejection of this project have apparently not been heard in substance. But MEPs have nonetheless strengthened the Commission’s regulation proposal by including guarantees and safeguards. The selection of the so-called “safe” countries has been postponed in order to wait for new country of origin information reports.
MEPs ask Member States to respect their financial commitments on refugee aid
25 July 2016 – The budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015 will be closed with a positive balance of 1.349 billion euros, which is to be refunded to the Member States in the form of a reduction in their contributions for the year 2016. The Members of the European Parliament have also adopted a resolution demanding that Member States use this refund to (finally!) honour their financial pledges in relation to refugee aid and to support the third countries that they like to see as their “partners”.
Paris, Brussels, Nice, but also Beirut, Baghdad, Istanbul, Orlando and so many others…
18 July 2016 - The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights condemns what can only be considered as a horrific crime. AEDH expresses its solidarity and commiseration with the victims and their relatives. Violent offenses against fellow human beings are and remain unjustifiable, wherever and whenever they are committed.
The new mandate of Frontex agency - The EU obsessed with waging a war against migrants and refugees
7 July 2016 -
Call to the heads of governments participating in the Western Balkan Summit: “Violations of the right of asylum must stop!”
4 July 2016 - At the occasion of the third Western Balkans Summit, today in Paris, AEDH, EuroMed Rights and the FIDH denounce the complete denial by the head of States in relation to the issue of the dignified reception of migrants and refugees travelling on the Western Balkan route.
Joint NGOs Statement following the arrest of
the President of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey
29 June 2016 - The undersigned organizations, members of the Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN), express their deep concern about the recent arrest of the President of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT), Ms. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, together with MM. Erol Önderoğlu (journalist and Turkey representative of Reporters Without Borders) and Ahmet Nesin (journalist and writer).
Statement ahead of the European Council of 28-29 June 2016: After Brexit, the European Union has to return to its founding values
28 June 2016 - To leave or not to leave: the question will not be asked anymore. The United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union. The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) considers that beyond the outcome of the referendum - that has given necessarily a binary answer - the problems persist.
The European Union’s lists of "safe countries": a denial of the right of asylum
26 May 2016 - The AEDH, EuroMed Rights and the FIDH warn against the dangers of using the concept of safety in processing asylum applications. No country may be deemed "safe". By adopting such a list, the European Union (EU) and its Members States will institutionalise at European level a practice by which the Member States could refuse to fully comply with their responsibilities towards asylum seekers, in violation of their international obligations.
Reject dangerous migration response plan, more than 100 NGOs, including AEDH, tell EU leaders
27 June 2016 - At the upcoming European Council, EU leaders will discuss the European Commission’s Communication on a new Partnership Framework with third countries. The Communication proposes an approach which aims to leverage existing EU and Member States’ external cooperation instruments and tools in order to stem migration to Europe. A coalition of more than 100 NGOs express their grave concern about the direction the EU is taking by making deterrence and return the main objective of the Union’s relationship with third countries, at the expense of European credibility and leverage in defence of fundamental values and human rights.
Romania : dysfunctions observed in local elections
9 June 2016 - Local elections of the pubilc administration took place in Romania on the 5th of June. The APD (Asociatia Pro Democratia) has mobilized 800 observers for these elections, to make sure that the law is applied correctly and respected by the different institutional actors, politicians and by the civil society. Some dysfhunctions have been observed.
Belgium : strikes in prisons, living conditions denounced by the IOP (International Observatory of Prisons)
9 June 2016 - The International Observatory of Prisons (IOP) denounced the implementation of a modification in labour, which is not defined precisely, but that leads the IOP to think that it could have an impact on the working time in prisons. The indifference of Belgian authorities regarding this unique crisis has shocked the IOP. The IOP regrets the lack of means implemented to guarantee the living conditions of the prisoners.
Invitation to the public event "Turkey is not a safe country!" on 7 June 2016 in Paris
30 May 2016 - AEDH, EuroMed Rights, the FIDH and the French Human Rights League (LDH) invite you to join us at our public event (in French) “Turkey is not a safe country”. During this event, our organisations will shed light on the violations of the rights of Turkish citizens and foreigners in Turkey and on the challenges generated by the current EU policies which are inefficient and in contradiction with the Union’s fundamental principles.
Opacity of the negotiations on TTIP: certainly not a “storm in a tea cup”!
26 May 2016 - On 2 May, Greenpeace Netherlands published number of documents on the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, better known as TTIP, between the European Union and the United States. This leak confirms the concerns of civil society on the impact this treaty may have on the protection of European sanitary, environmental and social standards, as well as its criticism of the dispute-settlement arrangements and of the lack of transparency and democratic debate in the negotiation process.
Statement of the General Assembly of AEDH on the occasion of Europe Day, 9 May 2016
The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) held its General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, on 7 and 8 May 2016.
AEDH will host a seminar on freedom of movement in the European Union on 6 May
Come join us at the House of the European Union in Vienna on Friday 6 May. We will discuss issues regarding freedom of movement in the European Union with various speakers.
Coercion and exclusion do not make an equitable asylum policy! The Commission’s « propositions » for a reform of asylum are either unacceptable or unrealistic
4 May 2016 - In a note published today, AEDH observes that the European Commission is offering to organise the regression of the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, in a bid to seek the support of Member States and stem the flow of people entering the European territory with the hope of finding protection there.
Newsletter n°284 - April 2016
Take a look at AEDH latest newsletter and keep up to date with European news !
Download the Newsletter in English or in French.
Poland: New CSO initiative to monitor changes to legislation made by parliament and government administration
30 April 2016 - The Citizens Observatory for Democracy is a joint initiative of non-governmental organisations, supported by AEDH member Open Republic, keeping track of changes to legislation made by parliament and government administration and the reactions from civil society organisations, legal professionals and citizen groups.
Frontex 2.0: The European Union’s armed wing further reinforced and still untouchable
27 April 2016 - By August 2016, the European institutions aim to replace Frontex by a new coast guards and border-guards agency which will further jeopardise the rights of migrants and refugees. This new mandate reinforces the serious concerns expressed by the FRONTEXIT campaign since its establishment: deter, control and keep away men, women and children deemed undesirable while they are exerting their right to leave any country and the right to seek asylum.
Big Brother Awards 2016 in Germany
22 April 2016 - The “winners” of this year’s BigBrotherAwards in Germany are the interior secret service, Generali insurance, change.org, IBM Germany and BVG.
Linky, a communicating meter that tells a lot on our privacy
19 April 2016 - In 2012, in order to implement a European directive on end-use efficiency and energy services, France decided to replace all electricity meters by new meters called “Linky”, which are able to communicate information directly to an EDF plant without any intervention of its staff. LDH criticises the invasion of privacy caused by the gathering of many data on users by Linky.
Refugees : the countries of the EU delegate their responsibility (and their money) to Turkey to take care of them
17 April 2016 - Joint press release of AEDH , ALOS- LDH, action Luxembourg ouvert et solidaire - Human Rights League, ASTI, Association for the support of immigrant workers, Cercle de Coopération, and MSF, doctors without borders. Our organisations criticize the current EU migration policies in the aftermath of the EU-Turkey deal and call on EU member states to base their reaction to the "refugee crisis" on solidarity.
State of emergency : freedoms under threat
14 April 2016 - The Human Rights League of Luxembourg is extremely concerned with the consequences of the inclusion of the state of emergency in the constitution. If the Chamber and government insist anyway on doing so, the League wishes that considerably more effective guarantees are included in the text than those currently envisaged in order to avoid any risk of putting in danger the democratic system and citizens’ rights.
Let’s not offer a new right to secrecy to companies: send a letter to your MEP!
11 April 2016 - On 14 April 2016, the European Parliament will vote on the Directive “for the protection of trade secrets”. We encourage you to sign and send the attached letter and documents to your Member of the European Parliament (MEP) to call on them to reject it, because this directive will facilitate financial opacity and prevent whistleblowing.
The Member States would rather "send" police than "relocate" refugees
8 April 2016 - There is no doubt that, faced with the massive presence of migrants in its territory, Greece needs a helping hand from its European partners. The plan that the European Commission published in May 2015 was justified by the tragedies that had been playing out in the Greek islands for three years already.
Panama Papers: one more reason to reject the “Trade Secrets” directive!
7 April 2016 - A petition has been launched by a European coalition - including AEDH- urging MEPs to reject the "Trade Secrets" directive. The European Parliament will vote on this directive on 14 April 2016. Yet, the information revealed thanks to the "Panama Papers" illustrate the urgent need to put an end to financial opacity and to better protect whistleblowers who act in the genral interest !
Brussels: police against democracy
4 April 2016 - AEDH expresses its support for the President of the Belgian League of Human Rights (LDH), Alexis Deswaef, who was arrested by police on Saturday 2 April at Place de la Bourse in Brussels. AEDH urges the Home Affairs Minister and the Mayor of Brussels to fully investigate police behaviours and excesses.
Newsletter n°283 - February/March 2016
Take a look at AEDH latest newsletter and keep up to date with European news !
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Brussels: What place for human rights when facing terrorism?
31 March 2016 - Interview with Dominique Guibert, President of AEDH, realised by Café Babel Brussels about the verbal attacks the association faces on social networks in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, due to its positions against authoritarian and security excesses.
AEDH’s response to EASO’s call for inputs on the Draft EASO work program for 2017
23 March 2016 - AEDH has been invited to answer to the European Asylum Support Office (EASO)’s call for inputs on its Draft work program for 2017. In its contribution, AEDH provided general and national observations, comments and inputs in order to develop its Work Porgram 2017.
AEDH declaration on the attacks in Brussels
22 March 2016 - AEDH firmly condemns the attacks in Brussels. prosecuting the attackers while defending democracy, the rule of law and human rights is the only possible answer to terrorist attacks.
The Belgian League of Human Rights condemns the cowardly and blind violence that has scarred Brussels
22 March 2016 - The Belgian League of Human Rights firmly condemns the unjustifiable and atrocious criminal acts of violence that took place in Brussels.
The Turkey/European Union agreement : externalising borders to end the right to asylum
16 March 2016 - Joint press release of the network Migreurop and AEDH : At a further summit meeting in Brussels on the 17 and 18 March, the EU and Turkey will adopt an agreement intended to resolve what is wrongly described as the ‘migrant crisis’. This is a plan above all that will allow the European Union to push refugees back beyond EU borders, and to subcontract its obligations to Turkey. Thus will members states flee their responsibilities in defiance of the right to asylum.
The Luxembourgish League of Human Rights criticizes the proposed revision of the constitutional provision on state of emergency
Luxembourg, 14 March 2016 – The state of emergency situation is provided under article 32 paragraph 4 of the Constitution since 2004. In January 2016, a proposal for revision was submitted to the State Council. In its recommendation, the Luxembourgish League of Human Rights alerts to the risks for the respect of fundamental rights, a balanced separation of powers and the rule of law.
Let’s make of the 8 March a daily event
8 March 2016 - The struggle of women has led to the conquest of rights and progress towards gender equality. On the 8th of March, AEDH honours these struggles at the International Women’s Day for women’s achievements worldwide. In our societies, women are everywhere but equality still needs to be conquered!
JOINT CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENT - Counter-terrorism: The EU and its Member States must respect and protect human rights and the rule of law
Brussels, 1st March 2016. The 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and elsewhere - and the assertion by States that there is an elevated terrorist threat in the European Union (EU) - have led to a new set of counter-terrorism measures at both EU and national levels. The undersigned organisations recall that counter-terrorism measures must always comply with the rule of law and human rights obligations.
The collapse of Polish democracy
18 February 2016 - The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) and its Polish member organization, Otwarta Rzeczpospolita, condemn the political decisions made by the Polish government against freedoms and democratic life.
Newsletter n°282 - January 2016
Take a look at AEDH latest newsletter and keep up to date with European news !
Download the Newsletter in English or in French.
2016 : It seems that the European Union is « at crossroads »… Who will the EU decide for ? Refugees and migrants or the Member States?
28 January 2016 - The Commissioner Avramopoulos gave a speech full of optimism at the meeting of the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament on 14 January, as well as at the weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. He seems to be convinced that in the year 2016, in contrast to 2015, the EU will “take action” and “turn towards the future”.
Recast of the Visa Code: Above all, economic interests
28 January 2016 - For several months, European institutions have been working on the reform of the community code on Visas. This text entered into force on 5th April 2010 establishing the conditions and procedures for the delivering of visas by Member States’ consulates.
The programme on migration for 2016
28 January 2016 - Commissioner Avramopoulos reminded the list of issues which will be tackled this year, in order to support his optimistic intervention on the challenges for the year 2016 before the European Parliament (see above).
Ambiguous judgment of the European Court of human rights on surveillance issues
28 January 2016 - On 12 January, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued a major ruling regarding surveillance issues. The case concerned a 2011 Hungarian legislation on anti-terrorist covert surveillance. Unanimously, the Court considered that this law was in breach of the right to privacy as defined in the Article 8 of the European Convention on Human rights.
European Union : Stop or more ?
28 January 2016 - “Europe is over, we’ve missed the boat, it’s too late” declared Michel Rocard during the event “les journées de Bruxelles” on November 19th, 2015. Is this highly pessimistic opinion the reflection of the future of the European integration?
Commemorating 10 years of the Data Protection Day: celebrating while remaining vigilant:
28 January 2016 - For the past 10 years, the Data Protection Day is celebrated every January 28 at the initiative of the Council of Europe. At each occasion it is an opportunity to recall the importance of this right which is a necessary legal counterweight in view of the proliferation of technological tools whose invasive potential is continuously increasing.
Call for EU action to safeguard democracy and fundamental rights
27 January 2016 - Civil society Europe, of which AEDH is a member, is expressing its concerns about the proposed legislation of the Polish government on the judicial and media powers and calls on the European Institutions to protect the fundamental rights of Polish and European citizens.
Rejecting migrants and refugees in Denmark: do not pass law L-87!
27 January 2016 - Joint press release of AEDH, Euromed-Rights and FIDH: the Danish parliament is about to adopt a law on the entry and sojourn of foreigners, which provides for confiscation of asylum seekers’ valuables. EuroMed Rights, the European Association for the defense of Human Rights and the International Federation for Human Rights are appalled by the closure policy of the Danish authorities, which goes against the human rights of migrants.
AEDH is organising a seminar for the 10 years of Data Protection Day!
15 January 2016 - Come join us in the European Parliament on the 27th of January! We will discuss the crucial developments in European legislation with leading figures in the fight for data protection such as Peter Hustinx and Max Schrems.
Newsletter n°281 - November 2015
Take a look at AEDH latest newsletter and keep up to date with European news.
Download the newsletter in English or in French.
Migrant rights are not for sale!
18 décembre 2015 - AEDH press release:
8.6 billion euros! This is the sum the European Union has committed to spending to keep migrants as far as possible from its borders. For this International Migrants Day, AEDH and its 32 member organisations call on the European Union and its member states: to stop considering the “migrant crisis” as an attack on their integrity, to open secure access routes to European territory and to act as real defenders of human rights.
AEDH is celebrating 10 years of the International Data Protection Day
Come join us in the European Parliament on 27 January, room PHS 1 C 51, from 14:00 to 18:00
We will discuss: the important developments in European legislation,the major achievements by active citizens and whistleblowers, the recent trends on the national, European, and global level
Guest among others: Max Schrems
For the record, the decisions and commitments of the European institutions and Member States of 2015
16 December 2015 - At the end of this year, we find it relevant to map out the most striking guidelines of European policies in response to the “migration crisis”.The review below sums up the main stages of the decision process which obviously did not prioritise the reception of refugees and the protection of their rights. In particular the last trimester of 2015 with the Valletta summit and the agreement with Turkey is evidence of the EU’s attempt to push the problem outside of the EU’s borders.
Hundreds of thousands, millions … statistics to be interpreted with caution
16 December 2015 - The numbers which were being published in abundance over the last months are sometimes difficult to interpret and their comparison is rather hazardous. Depending on the sources, they consist of numbers on : arrivals in the Mediterranean (UNHCR), disappearances (International Organization for Migration, IOM), transit routes (IOM again), irregular border crossings (Frontex), asylum applications (Eurostat). Below you can find a review for a better measurement of the challenges.
The “protection” of states vs protection of migrants
16 December 2015 - The risk of a humanitarian crisis at the border crossing points between Greece and the Balkans On 24 November, UNCHR, IOM and UNICEF have expressed their shared concern on the risks coming with new restrictions at several border crossing points of countries in the Balkans. Depending on their assumed nationality, people are blocked in some of these countries, without an appropriate and durable solution.
Europe 2020 strategy: what are the mid-term results?
15 December 2015 - Under the initiative of the European Union in 2008, the Europe 2020 strategy was implemented to respond in a relatively short 12 year term to some major economic and social issues(1): unemployment, investment in research and development, poverty and social exclusion, climate change, renewable energy and education.
AEDH joins the Frontexit campaign!
15 décembre 2015 - As an international campaign of several associations, Frontexit was launched in 2013 with the principle objective of abolishing the EU agency Frontex because of the incompatibility of its actions with the respect of the rights of migrants and refugees.
One in four children at risk of poverty in Europe, the figures are overwhelming
15 December 2015 - AEDH press release:
MEPs adopted with 569 in favour, 77 against and 49 abstentions a resolution urging EU member states to adapt their agendas in order to fight effectively child poverty and social inequalities. AEDH appreciates this initiative focusing on the specific situation of children among people at the risk of poverty and social exclusion (a quarter of the population is concerned). This resolution adopted by the European Parliament is a further argument in the fight against inequalities and social exclusion. Indeed, children are a particularly vulnerable group that needs protection.
The LIBE committee adopted the “Passenger Name Record” in breach of fundamental rights
14 December 2015 - AEDH press release:
The Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee of the European Parliament voted in favour of the compromise text on the PNR. In a letter sent to the members of this committee the European Association for the Defense of Human Rights (AEDH) called on the MEPs to reject the draft law that is contrary to the fundamental rights of the Union, as noted by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) who immediately challenged this vote.
Poverty is not a situation, it is a denial of rights !
10 December 2015 - AEDH press release:
Statistics prove it : there are still as many poor in the European Union as there have always been. In one of its latest press releases, Eurostat stated that 120 million people in 2014 were living in poverty and/or social exclusion. This means : a quarter of the population ! One has to recognise the importance of this number that should have enjoyed the widest possible publicity.
Contribution to the consultation of the European Commission on EU citizenship
8 December 2015 - AEDH has contributed to the consultation of the European Commission on EU citizenship. In its contribution, AEDH has underlined the urgent need to respect and protect the rights of EU citizens,, in particular the freedom of movement, through the use of appropriate mechanisms.
Data retention: Member States in denial
07 December 2015 - On April 8, 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) invalidated the directive on data retention because it did not respect the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Union. Since then, other decisions on similar matters have consolidated this first ruling. Nevertheless, during the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 3 and 4 December 2015, Member States considered that retaining bulk electronic communication data in a generalised manner was still allowed.
Newsletter n°280 - November 2015
Take a look at AEDH latest newsletter and keep up to date with European news.
Download the newsletter in English or in French.
Legal migration : the draft Directive “students, researchers and interns”, … soon concluded
27 November 2015 - The 17 November 2015, parliamentarians of the LIBE Commission and European ministers reached an informal agreement on the draft directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of research, studies, pupil exchange, remunerated and unremunerated training, voluntary service and au pairing.
The very exterior dimension of the European migration policy
27 November 2015 - The outcome of the Valletta Summit on migration (11-12 November) is a common declaration and a plan of action articulated around 5 core points : migration-development nexus, asylum, fight against irregular immigration, readmission and legal migration.
No net neutrality for Europe !
27 November 2015 - Net neutrality has had its ups and downs : adopted at first reading by the European Parliament in 2014, it has been erased from the telecommunication regulation during the discussions in the EU Council. Some MEPs have tried to reintroduce it by tabling amendments at second reading, but these have been rejected and net neutrality definitely is not part of the text adopted on 27 October.
Europe is caught in the trap of mass surveillance
27 November 2015 - After the attacks of 13 November in Paris, there is a big risk to see Europe getting trapped in a liberticide downward spiral. Passenger Name Record (PNR) at the EU level, international surveillance bill in France, surveillance bill in the UK, all these texts are presented as effective and necessary to fight against terrorism, and yet, nothing is less certain.
11th round of TTIP negotiations : Labour rights and environmental protection knocked-out ?
27 November 2015 - The “Stop TTIP” petition reached 3 millions signatures in Europe while on the other side of the Atlantic was held the 11th round of negotiations on the TTIP. Big news, the European commission has finally provided a public record of the discussions and expressed the changes they wish to incorporate in the treaty.
EuroMed Rights, of which AEDH is a member, calls on the new European neighbourhood Policy (ENP) to respect human rights
18 November 2015 - EuroMed Rights deeply regrets that the Communication on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy, issued today by the European Union, is a step back on previous policies to meet the challenge of putting respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as the promotion of democratic reforms, at the heart of its Neighbourhood Policy.
Read the press release here.
Report Seminar AEDH on poverty 16 November 2015
On November 16, AEDH hosted a seminar on the topic “Poverty : changing the language in order to change the policies” which brought together human rights organisations and European civil society actors in order to discuss the development of poverty in Europe and deconstruct the stereotypes assimilated to it in our political and everyday language.
November attacks in Paris: nothing else than crimes
16 November 2015 - AEDH press release on the Paris terrorist attacks of this friday 13th of November. Paris was the scene of gruesome slaughter. The appalling and provisional toll is of 129 people dead and more than 300 wounded.
Read the press release here.
The press release is also available in Italian.
Joint declaration: Human Rights at the core of Migration Policies
10 November 2015 - An urgent call to European and African leaders
Read the declaration here.
AEDH seminar on poverty, 16 November 2015
AEDH is pleased to invite you to its seminar-debate: “Poverty: changing the language in order to change the policies” on the 16th of November from 9.30 to 13.00. The seminar will take place at the European Economic and Social Committee (room TRE 7701), 74 rue de Trèves in Brussels.
Read the programme here.
Forced sterilization of Roma women in Czechoslovakia : a eugenic crime passed under silence
01 October 2015 - The Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (ČSSD) announced that the government rejected the bill to compensate the victims of forced sterilizations between 1970 and 2009 (date of the last sterilization[1]), without giving details. The rejection of this proposal by the Czech Prime Minister is just the latest evidence that the Roma population continues to endure serious and unpunished discriminations in Europe.
EU-US umbrella agreement : Europe must ask for more
15 October 2015 - After four years of negotiations, an agreement was reached between the United States and the European Union on the protection of personal information in the context of their transfer for the purpose of criminal investigations. If it can only improve the current state of regulation, it remains largely perfectible and subject to the political goodwill of the United States.
Neither necessity nor proportionality in PNR according to the European data protection supervisory
13 October 2015 - AEDH was stating it again on July 15, PNRs (Passenger Name Records) do not meet the criteria of necessity and proportionality inherent in personal data protection. In its opinion published on 24 September 2015, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) shares the same view.
Smart borders for all : now we know a little bit more…
16 October 2015 - AEDH was already talking about it last month : while there is still an ongoing public consultation about the smart borders initiative, some ideas are already circulating inside the EU Council. Because there is the objective to fight against terrorism through an expansion of the system to anyone, it also highlights the security dimension of this project.
The Bara and Weltimmo affairs, two cases that are (also) important
15 October 2015 - While everybody was watching in the direction of the Schrems case, two other rulings that the Court of Justice of the European Union made the previous week went unnoticed. Because they specify the procedures to process personal data within public administrations and extend the scope of action of national data protection authorities, these decisions could have consequences in some upcoming European policies.
Does the minimum wage fights against unemployment or promotes social dumping ?
27 October 2015 - According to Eurostat, the unemployment situation within the EU seems to be timidly improving with the creation of 400 000 jobs in the second quarter. In Germany this is 160 000 additional jobs created thanks to the introduction of a minimum wage earlier this year. This measure was announced by Chancellor A. Merkel on November 2013 and entered into forced on January 1st, 2015. This new minimum wage is about 8.50 Euros per hour.
The economic and social situation in Greece : mirror of the European future ?
12 October 2015 - The Greek labour Minister Geórgios Katroúgalos spoke before the Employment and Social Affairs committee of the European Parliament. As a conclusion, he expressed his scepticism about an improvement of the social situation in Greece in a Europe dominated by neoliberal approaches.
Read the article
Press release of the platform Civil Society Europe on the urgent need for a structured dialogue on migration
19 October 2015 - Civil Society Europe calls on leaders of European institutions meeting for the European Council to set up a structured dialogue on migration.
Read the joint press release here.
“Safe Harbor”: the CJEU gives back all rights to the protection of personal data
06 October 2015 - AEDH Press release : Less than two weeks after the publication of the opinion of the Advocate General Yves Bot, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) sent Tuesday, October 6, 2015, a clear message to the European Commission, the EU Member States, multinationals and the US government: personal data protection and privacy are citizens’ fundamental rights which must be respected and guaranteed, even in an economy of personal data or in the context of the fight against terrorism.
Read the press release here (unofficial translation).
Good news for data protection in the EU: The Court of Justice invalidates Safe Harbor
In its judgement of 6th October 2015, the Court of Justice has ruled that the Safe Harbor agreement is invalid. The Court highlights the competence of national supervisory authorities to examine whether the transfer of a person’s data to a third country complies with the requirements of the data protection directive even when the Commission has found a third country offers an adequate level of protection. .
Accordingly, the European Commission must now suspend the agreement.
See press release, AEDH article.
New dispute settlement system under the TTIP?
16 September 2015 - The European Commission published a proposal for a new dispute resolution system as part of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). This Investment Court System (ICS) replaces the Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).
Read the article there.
Unemployment in the European Union continues its way: Young people are the first affected
23 September 2015 - The economic and financial crisis has had and still has a negative impact on the European labour market. In 2015, seven years after the beginning of the crisis, the situation seems to be timidly improving but unemployment is still reaching alarming scores.
Read the article there.
The fight against smugglers : 2nd round of EUNAVFOR MED
On 24 September 2015, in Rome, Federica Mogherini, head of European diplomacy, has officially announced that the second phase of the operation EUNAVFOR Med will begin on 7th October.
Read the article there.
The European Union’s measures and the rise of asylum applications
22 September 2015 - The EU Council has finally agreed to implement the relocation procedure proposed by the Commission last May. But the constant increase of the number of asylum seekers threatens the measures adopted by the member states. While the EU directives multiply, treatment inequalities emerge. How to slow the growing influx of asylum-seekers ?
Read the article there.
Newsletter n°278 - September 2015
Take a look at AEDH latest newsletter and keep up to date with European news.
Download the Newsletter in English.
Smart borders : what are they hiding from us?
22 September 2015 – As the feasibility of the smart borders project is evaluated and while the public consultation on the subject is still ongoing, the Commission already seems to have some precise ideas for future propositions. One problem though : neither MEPs nor civil society have been informed.
Read the article there.
The Commission must suspend the Safe Harbor!
23 September 2015 – In his opinion, the advocate general of the European Union Court of Justice, Yves Bot, argues that the Safe Harbor agreement, which allows the transfer of personal data of European citizens to the United States is “invalid”. Thus, he confirms what the civil society and the European Parliament continuously asserted : the Commission must suspend immediately this agreement which infringes the fundamental rights of European citizens.
Read the article there.
Europe, quo vadis?
23 September 2015 - Is there a migrant and/or refugee crisis? Or is there a European crisis? The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) considers that this issue has implications for the future of the European Union, given the powerful consequences of member states’ decisions for the rights of migrants, whether they are fleeing war, repression, poverty or death.
Read the article here.
The best and worse of Europe
11 September 2015 - In the face of the current humanitarian crisis affecting people fleeing war, persecution and poverty, EPAM (European NGO Platform on Astlum and Migtration) of which AEDH is a member, Social Platform and CONCORD Europe – the three largest coalitions of European NGOs working on development, social rights, asylum and migration – have come together to call on Member State governments and ministers to create a more welcoming Europe.
Read here in english.
Newsletter n°277 - July 2015
Take a look at AEDH latest newsletter and keep up to date with european news.
Download the Newsletter in English or in French.
Labour exploitation of migrants is still a reality in Europe
15 July 2015 – The Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) of the EU denounced, in its report « Severe labour exploitation : workers moving within or into the European Union », the abusive conducts of several employers in Europe towards employed migrants. As worrisome as those facts are, it is the lack in many member states of legislative or regulatory provisions that may deter such practises.
While the negotiations on TTIP continue starting July 13th, the European Parliament adopted a really shy resolution
July 2015 - If the European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) positively appreciates that a public debate on the state of the negotiations happened in the European Parliament, it considers that the adopted resolution remains quite shy. Real prelude to the ratification of the Treaty by the Parliament, constitutionally required, the adopted text sends a contradictory message – that pretends to spare both TTIP advocates and its opponents – to the European Commission appointed by the member states to lead the negotiations with the United States.
The dangerous route of the Balkans
July 2015 was subjected to a spectacular increase of migrants’ arrivals in the Western Balkans. Most of them come from Greece and pursue their journey towards Hungary. They cross the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia.
Acquisition of citizenship in the EU
July 2015 - According to Eurostat’s last publication on acquisitions of citizenship in the EU, Member States of the EU granted citizenship to about one million persons in 2013. Most of them were of Moroccan, Turkish and Colombian origin. This represents an increase of 20% (about 163 000 persons) in comparison to 2012.
Statistics : the Mediterranean crisis is « refugee crisis »
July 2015 - According to the UNHCR, 137 000 persons have crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe during the first half of 2015, which represents an increase of 86% in comparison to 2014. One third are coming from Syria.
The European Agenda on Migration
Migratory urgency they say in unison… But urgency for who ? Urgency for what ?
July 2015 - Judging on the Member States’ recurrent statements of the last two months and on their reactions to the propositions laid down in the Commission’s European Agenda on Migration (Mai, 15, 2015), for Member States, the urgency is clearly to protect frontiers ; those of the EU and those of their own. To that end, they managed to reach unanimity, inexistent in many other fields…
French surveillance law : (LIBERTE) SECURITE -EGALITE-FRATERNITE
23 July 2015 – By declaring almost the totality of new French surveillance rules in conformity with the Constitution, the Conseil Constitutionnel enshrines the end of a legend : France as the “homeland of Human rights”.
European PNR : a “generalized suspicion” mechanism endorsed by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) committee of the European Parliament
15 July 2015 – 32 members of the LIBE committee voted in favour, 27 against : the final position of the European Parliament on the proposal for a PNR Directive has been adopted. The Parliament’s position will thus be defended by the rapporteur Timothy KIRKHOPE (EPP, United-Kingdom) during trilogue negotiations with the Commission and the Council. The date for the negotiations to start is still unknown.
Trilogue on Data Protection : where have the negotiations gone so far ?
15 July 2015 – In the day after the second trilogue meeting held on 14 July, the rapporteur for the Parliament Jan Albrecht presented the negotiations’ state of progress on the Data Protection Regulation to his colleagues of the LIBE committee.
Surveillance in Germany : Netzpolitik.org prosecuted for “treason” for publishing confidential documents
10 July 2015 – Last February and April, the German defender of fundamental rights Netzpolitik published confidential documents testifying the extension of German intelligences services’ surveillance activities on the Internet. On July 10, the president of the intelligence services put charges against the website, accused of “treason” for having revealed state secrets. An accusation learned by Netzpolitik indirectly, via a broadcast.
The Annual Report of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is now available !
2 July 2015 – 2014 was a transitional year for the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). His objective : make sure that European institutions respect European citizens’ right to see their privacy respected in the making of new European public policies.
Newsletter n°276 - May, June 2015
Take a look at AEDH latest Newsletter and keep up to date with European news on Human rights.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) relaunched !
24 June 2015 - The European Parliament, the Commission and the Council are finally gathered to negotiate a better regime of data protection in Europe. What they have in common is their wish to replace as soon as possible the previous European text, the Directive 95/46/EC.
Net neutrality : Is the Parliament losing ground in order to reach the end of roaming fees ?
18 June 2015 - In April 2014, net neutrality supporters had won an important victory : the adoption by the European Parliament of a position defending an equal and discrimination-less Internet access for all. And yet, the last text adopted by the Parliament on June 18 threatens a victory of Member States, which have bargained free and open Internet in exchange for the conditional end of roaming.
Breaking News ? : Facebook’s privacy policy flouts privacy rules
18 June 2015 - The Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA) has launched a judiciary procedure against Facebook. It is the first time that a national DPA sues Facebook for non-compliance with European privacy rules.
Data Retention : European goods and bad students
01 June 2015 - The Constitutional Court of Belgium has decided to invalidate a 2013 legislation compelling Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and telecom operators to store users’ data. In doing so, Belgium joins the list of other EU “good students” along Slovakia, Ireland, Austria, Romania, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Bulgaria. All these Member States have then enacted the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJUE)’ Digital Rights Ireland decision which invalidated the European directive on data retention.
The financial deregulation, trigger of the economic crisis, is still not under control in Europe
13 May 2015 - Commissioner Jonathan Hill does not cease to promote one of the major projects of the European Union that is the Capital Markets Union. It is supposed to serve the principal and eternal objectives of the Commission that are growth and jobs in
The Cohesion Policy of the EU does not respect fundamental rights
18 May 2015 - The 18th of May, the European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly published a long-awaited report on the cohesion policy of the European Commission for the period 2014-2020. This policy provides the general financing framework that will lead to the disbursement of structural funds in the different regions of the member states.
In Europe, the access to healthcare for pregnant migrants is almost non-existing
18 May 2015 - The report published May 18th by the organisation Doctors of the World - Médecins du Monde « Access to healthcare for people facing multiple vulnerabilities in health in 26 cities across 11 countries. Report on the social and medical data gathered in
Recommendations to the Member-states regarding their economic policy : how correcting a crisis with the bad that brought it
13 May 2015 - In line with the European Semester, the European Commission published May 13th the recommendations to the member states regarding their economic policy as well as the national reforms they foresee in that regard. Despite the divergence of the economies of 28 states, a comparative analysis of these reports highlights some major patterns : austerity measures applied by states and backed up by the institutions do not allow reducing public deficits ; yet they led to a drop of the most fundamental social indicators.
World Refugee Day : new statistics on asylum
20 June 2015 – Two reports marked the World refugee Day, on June, 20. In its report on the world asylum global trends in 2014 “World at war”, the High Commissioner for Refugees announces that the number of persons “fleeing their homes and seeking refuge and safety elsewhere” has reached a record level in modern history : 59.9 millions of people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2014.
UNHCR : Special Initiative for the Mediterranean
16 June 2015 - The action plan “Special Initiative for the Mediterranean” for the period between June and December 2015 was made public by the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR). This action plan is an update of the Central Mediterranean Sea Initiative. It lists actions in three regions : Europe, Middle-East and Northern Africa, and in West Africa, the East and Horn of Africa.
European Agenda on Migration : the Member States’ negative reactions
13 May 2015 - The Commission presented, on May, 13, its European Agenda on Migration for 2015-2020. Announced as one of the ten priorities of President Jean-Claude Juncker, this Agenda prescribes short term and long term solutions. This common approach comprises four pillars :
- A genuine common asylum policy
-The strengthening of the fight against traffic and of the prevention of irregular migration
-An improved management of external frontiers
- A renewed policy on legal migration
The Member States’ reactions were negative.
Bridges, not weapons ! An appeal for a migrant, asylum seeker and refugee reception policy
It is estimated that over 20,000 people have lost their lives along Europe’s borders over the past 20 years, with almost 2,000 of them perishing in the Mediterranean since the start of 2015. The Member States of the European Union (EU) will address the issue of these repeated tragedies at the 25-6 June European Council meeting.
Bridges, not weapons ! Press conference on June, 24th
It is estimated that over 20,000 people have lost their lives along Europe’s borders over the past 20 years, with almost 2,000 of them perishing in the Mediterranean since the start of 2015. The Member States of the European Union (EU) will address the issue of these repeated tragedies at the 25-6 June European Council meeting. Therefore, the AEDH and other organisations have set up a press conference on June, 24th to present their European appeal for a migrant, asylum-seeker and refugee reception policy.
Open letter : the national immigration policies threaten the lives of migrants and asylum seekers in Europe
Following the initiative of Doctors of the World, AEDH cosigned with several associations a letter adressed to Vytenis Andriukaitis, European commissioner to Health & Food Safety, as well as to all the national ministers for health before the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) of June 19th.
REMDH calls for the protection of Human Rights’ activists and for a restrenghened link between societies north and south of the Mediterranean
16 June 2015 : During its 10th General Assembly, the Euro-mediterranean human rights network (REMDH) adopted its final resolution. REMDH conveys its concern regarding the tragic events that happened in the Mediterrean recently, as well as regarding the treatment of the numerous refugeesspan style=b styEN-USspan style=/objectle= that came in Europe to seek a safe place to live.
LDH Belgium : the Constitutional Court annuls the Data Retention Act !
11 June 2015 : Following two independant actions for annulment, the Constitutional Court rule out the generalised conservation of communication metadata.
“Against shipwrecks in the Mediterranean: bridges, not walls”
The expectations surrounding the European Council of April 23rd quickly turned into disillusions. Facing increasing shipwrecks to a scale never seen before, the members of the European Council once again preferred to put forward the security dimension of migrations across the Mediterranean instead of the saving of lives.
Newsletter n°274 - April 2015
Take a look at AEDH latest Newsletter and keep up to date with European news on Human rights.
Deaths in the Mediterranean : the European Council’s dishonour
24 April 2015 - The associations and organizations across Europe that defend the rights of all to live somewhere in safety cannot accept the position adopted by the European Council on Thursday 23 - that merely attempted to shelter the European Union and its Member States from migrants by toughening border protection - and in the coming weeks will decide how to oppose this deadly policy.
SHIPWRECKS: The appeal to the #EuropeanCouncil is still open to organisations’ signatures !
Join the other signatories by sending an email to info(at)aedh.eu.
Read the appel "Migrants in the Mediterranean, 32 organisations across the EU appeal to the European Council".
END EUROPE’S SHAME ! Joint open letter to the European Council
22 April 2015 - In a joint open letter to the European Council, AEDH and FIDH urge the EU and its Member States to take urgent measures to prevent further loss of life in the Mediterranean.
Migrants in the Mediterranean, 32 organisations across the EU appeal to the European Council
22 April 2015 - In a joint press release, 32 organisations – including the European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) – call on the the European Council, which will meet on 23 April, to reestablish the commitment that, a little over fifteen years ago, paved the way for “an open and secure European Union, fully committed to the obligations of the Geneva Refugee Convention and other relevant human rights instruments, and able to respond to humanitarian needs on the basis of solidarity.”
Press release: Basta! The criminal cynicism of the European Union
17 April 2015 - To cope with the daily and growing tragedies at the European Union’s borders, the Commission did nothing more than announce the upcoming publication of an umpteenth “European agenda on migration”. We are told that its holistic approach is innovative. In fact, innovation means an agenda “coupled with better governance”, its redundant ambition is notably “to act more decisively against illegal immigration and uphold greater safety at the borders” . And two months ago, the prolongation of the operation Triton, coordinated by Frontex, until the end of 2015 was announced.
Press release: Transatlantic Free Trade Agreements: Bad weather for Rights!
16 April 2015 - The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights joins in world citizen mobilization of the 18th April, against the transatlantic free trade treaties TTIP and CETA. AEDH considers that on one hand the opacity surrounding the negotiations of these treaties does not allow democratic debate and, on the other hand the provisions it contains carry unacceptable limitations to economic and social rights, to environmental standards and to the protection of personal data.
Economic and social rights of migrants in the EU. AEDH fact sheet
AEDH has published a fact sheet giving an overview on the various texts on economic, social and cultural rights of migrants in the EU so that can be used as an information base in the perspective of the upcoming transpositions of the directives.
Read more
AEDH Seminar : TTIP and its effects on fundamental rights
AEDH would like to invite you to the public seminar « TTIP and its effects on fundamental rights » that will take place on Friday, 10th April from 13.30 – 18.00 in the Résidence Palace – International Press Center (Maelbeek conference room).
Joint Press release: The European trade secrets directive is a threat to our liberties
7 April 2015 – In a joint press release, more than 45 organisations from 8 different countries – including the European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) – call on the members of the European Parliament to revise the draft directive on trade secrets that will be debated in the European Parliament Legal Affairs Committee in May.
Newsletter n°274 - February/March 2015
Take a look at AEDH latest Newsletter and keep up to date with European news on Human rights.
News from our network: « Give Greece a Chance ! », a declaration of the Alter Summit
20 March 2015 - The Alter Summit, AEDH is a member of, has declared its support to the Greek government’s decision to break with the austerity measures taken by former governments and to reject austerity and the Troika. It underlines especially that the current conflict does not oppose Europe to Greece but opposes the social rights of the citizens to the interests of big companies and banks to recover their debt.
The European Disability Forum (EDF) launches its alternative report on the rights of persons with disabilities
18 March 2015 - The European Disability Forum – an NGO representing the interest of Europeans with disabilities since 1996 - has submitted its alternative report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities (UN CRPD) by the European Union to the UN Committee.
News from AEDH - 7 French and European NGO’s, including AEDH and its member the French League of Human Rights, petition the European Parliament to demand that France respects the right of EU citizens to free movement
As part of the right of petition granted to European citizens, seven French and European associations, including AEDH, have decided to address a complaint to the European Parliament on expulsion and detention measures enacted by the French government toward European citizens, especially Romanian and Bulgarian, for the vast majority from the Roma community.
Member News - Cyprus: KISA condemns the participation of the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance in the event of the far-right “Institute of Demographic and Migration Policy”
16 March 2015 – At a press conference yesterday, with the presence of the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, the “Institute of Demographic and Migration Policy” presented the “findings” of its study on “unemployment and employment of third-country nationals and European citizens in the Republic of Cyprus”. KISA points out that these findings are utterly devoid of any scientific basis and aim to lend scientific-sounding support to the institute’s xenophobic and racist positions and which put the blame for unemployment and other problems of the economy on the victims instead of on the victimisers.
Member News - Latvia: The Latvian Human Rights Committee (LHRC) condemns the annual march in Riga honouring the veterans of Waffen SS Latvian Legion
15 March 2015 – Every year, Latvian veterans who fought in the Waffen SS against the Soviet Army during the Second World War (*) parade through the old town of Riga to national memorial of Liberty to lay flowers. The Latvian Human Rights Committee (LHRC) denounces the celebration of the collaborators often presented as "heroes" by one of the parties in power - the "National Alliance" - whose deputies attend the march every year.
Member News - Cyprus: Meeting of KISA with Chief of Police
13 March 2015 - In the framework of cooperation for the creation of a European programme against hate speech, a meeting between representatives of KISA and the Chief of Police, Mr. Zacharias Chrysostomou, took place.
AEDH’s response to EASO’s call for civil society input to the outline of the EASO Annual Work Program 2016
10 March 2015 - Every year, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) – an agency of the European Union that acts as a centre of expertise on asylum and contributes to the development of the Common European Asylum System by facilitating practical cooperation among Member States on the many aspects of asylum – invites interested civil society organisations (CSOs) to provide input to the outline of the EASO Annual Work Program before submitting it to the European Commission. Again this year, AEDH submitted to the EASO its general comments on its annual strategy.
En savoir plus
Member News - Belgium: The closed centres: Prisons in the shadow of the law… and of the media
6 March 2015 – The Belgian League of Human Rights (LDH) and the organisation CIRÉ (Coordination and Initiatives for Refugees and Foreigners) remain committed to the fight against the existence of the detention centres, and see in the latest developments an additional reason to be vigilant about what is going on out there, behind closed doors.
News from our networks: EMHRN commemorates International Women’s Day 2015 in the euro-med: zero impunity for violence against women!
6 March 2015 – In anticipation of the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) exhorts governments across the Euromed to seize this opportunity to renew their commitment to zero impunity for violence against women, with a particular focus on women’s rights defenders. The CSW session starts on March 9th and marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (the key global policy document on gender equality).
Read more
Member News - France : Contradictory Report on ESCR
26 February 2015 - The platform for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR), of which the French Human Rights League (LDH) is a part, published its report on ESCR in France. It underlines the shortcomings in the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and addresses recommendations to the national authorities.
Member News - Belgium: The League of Human Rights organizes a cycle of activities on the right to privacy from January to December 2015 in Brussels and in Wallonia
In the age of information and participatory web, tastes and colours are not personal business anymore. Instead, they circulate and are exchanged, sometimes "against our will and without our knowledge", for money.
Joint press release Frontexit: Frontex, poison or antidote to the tragedies in the Mediterranean ?
24 February 2015 – As Malta receives millions of Euros to fund maritime border control operations in collaboration with Frontex, members of the FRONTEXIT campaign denounce the security obsession blinding Europe and leading to increasing numbers of deaths.
Member News - Belgium : Right to strike, Human right!
23 February 2015 - In the context of the debates concerning the right to strike and the right to work, the Belgian League of human Rights reminds that there is no democracy without the right to strike, the latter being essential to its proper functioning.
Member News - Cyprus : Racist attack and violence against migrant by the police
20 February 2015 - KISA publicly denounces a new incident of racist violence, inhuman and humiliating treatment against a migrant by members of the police.
Member News - France: Solidarity night for housing: the call of the presidents of the “Collectif des associations unies”
Member News - Spain : Accusation of policemen involved in El Tarajal case : towards the restoration of the dignity of the victims and their families
12 February 2015 - After one year of stalemate in the investigation on the death of 15 migrants one year ago on the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, 16 Guarda Civil police officers involved in the case have been accused by judges from Ceuta.
News from our networks: EMHRN strongly condemns terrorist attacks in Denmark
18 February 2015 - The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) strongly condemns the two terrorist attacks on an event on freedom of speech and a synagogue in Copenhagen last weekend, resulting in the death of two civilians and the injury of five policemen.
Joint open letter : "Spain’s Basic Law for the Protection of Public Security, a threat to the rights of assembly and asylum"
12 February 2015 – In two joint open letters to LIBE MEPs and to EU Commissioners, 10 organisations including AEDH, APDHA and IDHC express their concern over the adoption of the Basic Law for the Protection of Public Security by the plenary of the Spanish Congress of Deputies on 11 December 2014. This law would introduce unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly in Spain and would legalise the practice of summary returns to Morocco from Spain’s enclaves in North Africa.
Joint press release: "Brussels conference on the future of the ECHR: declaration of 41 NGOs active in the judicial defence of prisoners’ rights"
Newsletter n°273 - January 2015
Every month, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Member news - Cyprus: The rescued Syrian and Palestinian refugees are left on the street
5 February 2015 - Tuesday 3rd of February 2015 was the last day of the refugee camp in Kokkinotrimithia, where since September 25th 2014 hosted the 365 Syrian and Palestinian refugees that were rescued while on a boat near the coast of Cyprus.
Press release: Data Privacy Day: new infrigements on the horizon
27 January 2015 - For Data Privacy Day, on 28 January 2015, AEDH reaffirms its high regard for the privacy and personal data protection guarantees as set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Joint open letter calling on Danish parliamentarians to reject a bill increasing refugees vulnerability
26 January 2015 - In an open letter initated by EMHRN, seven organisations including AEDH call on Danish parliamentarians to reject an amendment to the Danish Aliens Act aimed to limit asylum status granted to refugees and that will increase refugees vulnerability.
Member news - France: "Measures against terrorism: partial approval, reminder ofspan style=/spanhttp://www.aedh.eu/Joint-open-letter-Spaispan style=n-s-Basic.html the principles and total vigilance"
23 January 2015 - The French league of human rights (LDH) reminds, in a press release, that "we can effectively fight against terrorism only by preserving the letter and the principle of the rule of law".
Member news - Cyprus: "KISA calls the government not to abandon the rescued Syrian refugees in the hands of the smugglers"
22 January 2015 - The Ministry of Interior in the attempt to stop the function of the camp in Kokkinotrimithia, where Syrian refugees reside which were rescued last September in open waters of Cyprus, proceeded last Saturday with the withdraw of all state services from the camp (Police, Civil Defense, medical services, cooks etc.).
Aurore Martin: Open letter to the French Minister of justice co-signed by LDH, AEDH, EMHRN and FIDH
20 January 2015 - In a open letter to Madam Chritiane Taubira - the French Minister of justice - the LDH, the AEDH, the REMDH and the FIDH condemn Aurore Martin’s arrest. This young French woman is currently detained in Spain under a European arrest warrant issued by the Spanish courts for offences not punishable in France and for which the French courts haven’t authorised her surrender to the Spanish authorities.
Member news - France: 1995 - 2015: thousands of deaths off Mayotte. The "visa Balladur" kills!
16 January 2015 - Twenty years after the introduction of the ‘Balladur visa’, which transformed Mayotte into a hostile fortress for most of the people trying to reach it, the signatory organisations have decided to join forces throughout 2015 to ensure that nobody remains ignorant of the consequences of the anti-migration policies led by France and the European Union in the Indian Ocean.
Member news - Belgium: Care responsability for unaccompanied minors, the Council of State sets the record straight
15 January 2015 - The Council of State confirms that the Office of the Foreigners, Fedasil and the Guardianship Service for foreign unaccompanied minors of the Ministry of Justice violated the rights of foreign unaccompanied minors by concluding a cooperation agreement regarding their registration.
Member news - Greece: Report unveils human rights violations stemming from austerity policy
13 January 2015 - Austerity measures adopted in response to the economic crisis have adversely impacted human rights, such as the rights to work and health, and curtailed fundamental freedoms in Greece, denounce FIDH and its member organisation the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR) in a report released on December 18th 2014.
Press release: AEDH statement on the attack against Charlie Hebdo
9 January 2015 - The criminal attack perpetrated against the French satirical paper Charlie Hebdo on 7 January 2015, leading to the deaths of 12 people, has shocked France, along with the entire European Union and beyond.
Member news - France: "The Republic hurt"
7 January 2015 - The French League of human rights (LDH) condemns the assassination of twelve people in the offices of Charlie Hebdo.
News from our networks - Muzzling Dissent: Freedom of Assembly under Threat in the Euro-Med
18 December 2014 - In its latest report, Freedom of Assembly under Threat: Muzzling Dissent in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) rings the alarm on the increasing stifling of the right to peaceful assembly in the region.
Launch of the new website of the European NGO Platform on Asylum and Migration (EPAM)
18 December 2014 - As an EPAM member, AEDH is glad to announce the launch today of the new website of the European NGO Platform on Asylum and Migration (EPAM) on the occasion of the International Migrants Day.
Joint press release: 18 December: We must recognise the universal and indivisible rights of migrants
17 December 2014 - Every year for International Migrants day, celebrated on 18 December, AEDH joins with European civil society organisations to call on the EU and its Member States to sign and ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 18 December 1990.
News from our networks: Organic law for the protection of public security: a threat to civil liberties in Spain
16 December 2014 - Joint press release FIDH-REMDH-OMCT: The Euro-Mediterranean Network for Human Rights (EMHRN), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) deplore the adoption of the draft Basic Law for the Protection of Public Security, by the plenary of the Congress of Deputies on 11 December 2014. The three organisations denounce the growing restrictions on the right to demonstrate in Spain.
Newsletter n°272 - November/October 2014
Every month, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Festive International Colloquium on the Occasion of 100 Years of the German League’s History
9 December 2014 - The International League for Human rights (Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte), the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) and the European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) organise a Festive International Colloquium on the Occasion of 100 Years of the German League’s History. The colloquium will take place on Saturday December 13th 2014 in Berlin.
Joint open letter to the Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs on migrant children’s rights
8 December 2014 - In an open letter, AEDH and 25 other organisations working to improve the protection of children’s rights ask the Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, Commissioner Avramopoulos, to personally commit to take measures to realise the rights of every child affected by migration, regardless of their or their parents’ migration status, and to address all violations of their rights, as a priority within his mandate.
AEDH Seminar: "The transposal of the asylum package into German legislation: Risks and opportunities for the rights of asylum seekers"
4 December 2014 - AEDH organises, in cooperation with the International League for Human rights (Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte) and Borderline-Europe, a seminar about the transposal of the asylum package into German legislation. The seminar will take place on Friday 12th December 2014 in Berlin.
AEDH in the news: "Rights of the migrants in Europe: the syndrome of the besieged empire"
2 December 2014 - Catherine Teule, AEDH Vice-Chairperson, spoke about the operation Mos Maiorum, who took place from 13 till 26 October 2014, in an interview published in the magazine Alternatives Economiques.
Joint press release AEDH-APHA-IDHC:
Spain: repressive laws that also concern Europe
26 November 2014 - On 17 October, Members of Parliament from the People’s Party, party in government in Spain, have adopted the draft Organic Law on the Protection of Citizen’s Security and have rejected all the amendments presented by the various opposition parties. The law was adopted yesterday by the Internal Affairs Committee and will be passed in plenary session in Congress mid-December and its entry into force is planned by the end of the year.
Member news - Germany: The International League for Human Rights awards the 2014 Carl von Ossietzky Medal to whistleblower Edward Snowden and journalists Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald
24 November 2014 - The ILHR will reward Edward Snowden with the Carl von Ossietzky medal in Berlin on 14 December as well as to the journalists having helped him to reveal the biggest world mass surveillance scandal.
AEDH conference: How to take action for social inclusion?
12 November 2014 - AEDH would like to invite you to the public conference « How to take action for social inclusion? » on Thursday, 20th November from 9.00 – 16.15, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (room JDE, 70 – 7th floor).
Member news - Spain: Report of the Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos en Andalucía (APDHA): « Algeria: country of origin, transit and destination. Violations of human rights »
The Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos en Andalucía (APDHA) published a report on Algeria and the situation of migration in this country. Algeria is one of the main countries where migrants cross from Africa to Europe, and more particularly from Africa to Spain. These migrants, who want to settle in Algeria or to find a way to reach Europe, are victims of serious violations of their fundamental rights.
Press release of the European civic forum: "Citizenship removed from the portfolio of Tibor Navracsics"
30 October 2014 - The European civic Forum, of which AEDH is a member, congratulates itself on the withdrawal of the citizenship from Tibor Navracsics’ portfolio, but considers that M. Juncker’s choice to give this responsibility to Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration and Home affairs, is provocative and even dangerous.
News from our members: Contest and die... consequence of the refusal of a democratic confrontation
29 October 2014 - Press release of the French League of Human Rights regarding the death of Rémi Fraisse, an environmental activist killed during a demonstration against the construction of an intake barrage in Sivens, France.
Interview with Dominique Guibert in LDH’s newsletter « Human Rights in Central and Eastern Europe »
20 October 2014 – The French Human Rights’ League published its Newsletter « Human Rights in Central and Eastern Europe », with a dossier on the European elections and an interview of Dominique Guibert, chairman of AEDH.
13 - 16 October in Europe: Hunting undocumented migrants?
15 October 2014 - Mos Maiorum: The member states of the European Union have decided to put pressure on asylum seekers and more generally migrants. AEDH regrets this dual of police and propaganda operation. Migrants are not a threat and refugees are not invaders. AEDH acts to make their rights recognised and to push the European Union for adopting a common reception policy that respects the principles of the universality of humanity it pretends to defend.
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Newsletter n°271 - 14 October 2014
Every month, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Common action on the margin of the meeting of EU ministers of justice and home affairs : « The situation in the Mediterranean concerns all 28 »
9 October 2014 – AEDH takes part in the action « The situation in the Mediterranean concerns all 28 », initiated by Luxembourgian civil society organisations. The participants will show up this Thursday October 9th in front of the Council meeting Justice and Home affairs in charge of the asylum and immigration politics.
Press release : AEDH addresses the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of EU member states, meeting on October 9 and 10 within the Council of the European Union in Luxembourg
8 October 2014 - AEDH reminds the Ministers of member states and the European Commission that in view of this dramatic deterioration of the situation of migrants off the coasts of Europe, the absence of a concerted reception policy is blatant. AEDH considers that the priority given to the protection of the borders rather than to the protection of the migrants is the reason for the deaths, and call on the European Union to act now.
Press release: Tibor Navracsics has been rejected by the European Parliament as Commissioner for culture, education and citizenship!
7 October 2014 – AEDH, who had alerted the wider public and mobilised MEPs to vote against Mr Navracsics’ designation as Commissioner for culture, education and citizenship, warmly welcomes the vote of the Culture Committee and will continue to closely follow the reshuffling of the European Commission.
News from our network : EMHRN Condemns the Harassment of Human Rights Organizations and the Repeated Violations of the Right to Freedom of Assembly
6 October 2014 - In response to the systematic harassment suffered by the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) and other human rights organisations, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) – a member of the AEDH’s network – calls on the Moroccan governement to stop all interferences with the activities of the Moroccan civil society and human rights defenders.
News from our members : Governmental attacks against Hungarian NGOs discussed at OSCE human rights meeting
2 October 2014 - On the occasion of the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting of the OSCE in Warsaw on September 22, the measures taken by the Hungarian government against the country’s NGOs were discussed. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, AEDH member, and other Hungarian NGOs presented the steps taken by the government against NGOs and reforms and policies weakening democracy in Hungary.
Press release: Citizens’ demonstrations for women’s rights have been successful: Spanish government withdraws draft law restricting abortion
1 October 2014 - On Tuesday, 23 September, the Spanish government announced the withdrawal of the much disputed plans to restrict the Spanish abortion law. In a press release, AEDH considers that the withdrawal of the draft law is an important signal for the rights of women not only in Spain, but all over Europe. AEDH will continue to fight against any regulation that calls into question the ability of women to decide what is right for them.
AEDH expresses its opposition to the designation of the Commissioner in charge of education, culture and citizenship
24 Septembre 2014 - In an open letter, AEDH asks the members of the European Parliament not to ratify the nomination of Mr. Navracsics to the function of European Commissioner in charge of education, culture and citizenship. For AEDH, this nomination is contrary to the objectives of education for all, of diverse culture and open citizenship. AEDH also participates in initiatives against this nomination of the civil society organisations having played a crucial role in the European Year of Citizens and of Europe +.
Press release: "How many deaths in the Mediterranean Sea will it take?"
19 September 2014 - One year ago, AEDH challenged the European Union (EU) and its Member States, asking them to recognise their responsibility in the successive and daily tragedies that swallow thousands of men, women and children at the southern border. In the space of a few days at the end of summer, 500 people disappeared in the waters off Malta and Italy, a further 200 off Libya; since June, this gloomy count would amount to 2,200 people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR). Today, AEDH asks the European Union to stop throwing money into the sea to protect itself, and to start assisting migrants instead, in order for them to regain their dignity and their rights at our borders, that they will be able to reach safely.
Lecture: "FRONTERA SUR ¿Hay alternativas ?" on 9th and 10th September 2014 at European parliament
AEDH takes part in the presentation of the initiative "FRONTERA SUR ¿Hay alternativas ?", an initiative created in order to find a european solution to the drama at the border in Ceuta and Melilla, Spain. Check here the schedule of the conference.
Press release: "Gaza: after the ceasefire, the EU will pay for not having to make a decision"
3 September 2014 - The European Association for the defence of Human Rights (AEDH) regrets deeply that the EU settled for a wait-and-see statement during the Council’s meeting on August 30th 2014, even though more than 2000 Palestinians died and more than 10000 have been wounded, and a sustainable and directly negotiated settlement remains unpredictable.
Interview of Dominique Guibert, President of the AEDH – July 2014
In an interview given to Euranet Plus, Dominique Guibert, President of the AEDH, talks about the impact of the EU representatives’ racist speeches on the population.
Project "Filing, Inform Citizens: Passport for the Protection of Personal Data": The tools are available
In the framework of the project the partners developped tools such as a comparative overview on Member States’ practises regarding public data collection as well as communications tools addressed to a wide audience (a passport and a hit parade). In this framework AEDH also realised a monograph on European information systems and the European legal framework on data protection.
The tools of the programme PROGRESS are available !
For one year, the French League of Human Rights – AEDH member- has developed a program of information and training on access to rights for Roma persons. Two national tools were created through this program and numerous training sessions have been organised
What do you know of public data collection ? Take the quiz to assess your knowledge on the topic!
The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights held its General Assembly on June 21st and 22nd 2014
Gathered for the General Assembly on June 21st and 22nd, the members of AEDH have renewed the executive board of the association for a period of two years
No Europe without rights ! Resolution adopted by the General Assembly of AEDH on June 21st and 22nd
Gathered in Brussels for its General Assembly on June 21st and 22nd, AEDH, European Association for the Defence of Human Rights, confirms its commitment and of its member organisations to a Europe of rights.
Common AEDH and APDHA position on the situation in Ceuta.
Common AEDH and APDHA position on the situation in Ceuta after a field visit by an APDHA delegation. Concrete proposals for Spanish European election candidates and for all MEPs once elected.
#helpsyriasrefugees : sign the petition !
More than 130,000 men, women and children have died since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in March 2011. Currently 2,7 million registered refugees are on the run from war.
In this context, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) launched a campaign calling on the EU institutions to protect Syrian refugees.
Help us by signing the petition !
Public conference "Fundamental rights for Roma people"
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23 June 2014 - 9.00 to 17.00 - Brussels
REGISTER TO the public conference "Fundamental rigths for Roma people"
The public conference “Fundamental Rights for Roma people” aims to present the European project “Roma people have rights – INSEROM: for effective exercise of fundamental rights”.
Contribution of the CSO liaison group to the Europe 2020 mid-term review
The EESC’s Civil Society Organisations liaison group, whose AEDH belongs to, contributed to the Europe 2020 mid-term review.
The AEDH calls on the new European Parliament to choose a Europe of human rights.
The results of the elections to the European Parliament have once more shown the extent to which the course taken by the European Union is increasingly disconnected from its voters’ concerns, daily life and problems. The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights must assess what this vote means for democracy.
EASO Work Programme 2014
EASO’s mission is to contribute to the implementation of a common European asylum system (CEAS) by providing support and facilitating, coordinating and strengthening practical cooperation among Member States as an independent centre of expertise on asylum.
Close the camps : mapping of migrant camps
Migreurop released a dynamic and interactive mapping of migrant detention in Europe and beyond.
Frontex Annual Risk Analysis (ARA) 2014
Frontex released its Annual Risk Analysis.
Morocco: EMHRN denounces the conviction of eleven young activists - May 2014
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) condemns the decision of the Aïn Sebaâ Criminal Court of Casablanca to sentence eleven young activists of the ‘20th of February Movement’ to up to one year in prison, following their participation in a peaceful protest.
Joint open letter to the European Council calling for European commitments on children’s rights to be prioritised in future common migration and asylum policies - May 22, 2014
In the view of the upcoming June European Council, where strategic guidelines will be adopted outlining future EU Home Affairs policies, we, the undersigned organisations, children’s ombudspersons of Europe and the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, are writing to urge member states to build on previous commitments to children and make child rights a priority.
Newsletter n°269 - 20 may 2014
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Syria: Groups Call for ICC Referral - 15 May 2014
The EMHRN with more than one hundred civil society groups from around the world issued a statement on thursday 15 May to urge the United Nations Security Council to approve a resolution to refer the situation in Syria to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Spain : APDHA publishes its annual report on immigration “Human Rights at the southern border” – May 2014
Every year, APDHA, our spanish member, publishes its report “Human Rights at the southern border”, aims at giving a global vision of the migration flows management at the EU southern border.
Newsletter n°268 - 7 May 2014
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Open letter of European NGOs: Europe needs a humane asylum system!
Call upon the EU Commission, the EU Parliament and the EU Council of Justice and Home Affairs to take immediate action.
Visit the website dedicated to the campaign "A Europe of Rights : here, now, for all!" - 28 April 2014
AEDH and its member associations launched the website dedicated to the campaign "A Europe of Rights : here, now, for all!"
Press Release: Retention of electronic communications data: the European Court of Justice declares the 2006 Data Retention Directive to be invalid based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights - 23 April 2014
Referring in particular to Articles 7, 8 and 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Court of Justice has declared invalid the Directive 2006/24/EC on the retention of data generated or processed in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services.
Newsletter n°267 - 16 April 2014
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Joint Press Release: Women’s rights threatened (15/04)
AEDH and EMHRN stand up together for human rights and women’s rights against the obscurantism and the insidious and flagrant witch hunts forming in Europe
Germany: Complaint initiated by the Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte - February 2014
The International League for Human Rights launched a law suit against the secret services and Federal Republic of Germany owing to the mass surveillance by NSA and others.
REGISTER TO The Public Conference “Filing, Inform citizens – Passport for the protection of personal data” - 9 April 2014 at the EESC
Presentation and debate about government data collection and data protection in 14 Member States of the European Union and at the European level.
This conference will present the project of the same name, which is initiated and coordinated by our French member the Ligue des Droits de l’Homme and for which AEDH is partner.
Thank you to register BEFORE 6 APRIL by sending an email with your name, the name of your organisation and your position at: info@aedh.eu
Newsletter N°266 - 25 March 2014
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Open Letter to EU institutions and agencies: "Protect Syrian refugees!" 18 March 2014
In the framework of the campaign "Europe, act now!", AEDH cosigns an open letter asking European leaders to act now to ensure access to protection for the men, women and children fleeing the conflict in Syria.
Joint Press Release : “Tunisia-EU Mobility Partnership: a Forced March towards the Externalization of Borders” – 17 March 2014
On 3 March, Tunisia and the European Union signed a ‘mobility partnership’. Over the last two years, the signatory organizations have repeatedly expressed their concerns about this partnership.
Transposition of the CEAS in national legislation. Decryption and key points.
By publishing this note, AEDH wished to decrypt the key issues of this new legislative package. This note aims to provide our associations with a guide in order to promote a real recognition of the rights of asylum seekers and refugees when transposing EU law.
Newsletter N°265 - 10 March 2014
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
For 8 March, international Women’s Day, AEDH and APDHA firmly oppose to the Spanish government’s draft law on abortion
For 8 March – International Women’s Day – the Andalusian Association for Human Rights (APDHA) and the European Association for the Defense of Human Rights (AEDH) declare their opposition to the Spanish government’s draft law on abortion.
Ukraine : Ukrainian citizens must regain their freedom of decision - Press release 7th march 2014
AEDH is worried about the dangerous situation Ukrainian citizens are facing in their own country, a substantial part of which is under military occupation of foreign troops. The troops are visibly supported or sent by the Russian government and president Putin.
Resolution adopted on 4th March 2014 by the Steering Committee of the European Year of Citizenship Alliance - March 2014
The Steering Committee of the European Year of Citizens Alliance, in which AEDH takes part, adopted yesterday (4.3.2014) a resolution on Ukraine’s future.
"For a Europe of Human Rights: here, now and for all!" : Joint campaign of the AEDH and its members - 4th March 2014
The campaign “Europe of rights: here, now, for all !” is conducted by the European Association for the Defence of Human Rights and its 31 member associations, which promote human rights, democracy and citizenship across 22 member states of the European Union.
The European Parliament backed EU-Turkey deal to return irregular migrants – 26th February 2014
The European Parliament approved yesterday (26/02/2014) the readmission agreement between the EU and Turkey.
AEDH reiterates its strong opposition to the signing of this agreement. Generally, the AEDH’s reserves and criticisms, like those of many other organizations, concern both the risk of non-respect of migrant rights – or even their endangerment – and the method employed by the EU during the negotiation and implementation of the agreements.
AEDH in the news: "The AEDH Vice-Chairwoman, Catherine Teule, calls to limit the negative effects of the Asylum Package" – 24th February 2014
On the 24th of February the website Europaforum.lu published an article about the intervention of Catherine Teule on the challenges of the transposition of the new Asylum Package in the Member States.
“Spanish lawmakers should reject proposal aimed at closing the door on justice for the most serious crimes” – Joint declaration 10th February 2014
AEDH and 121 ONGs from all over the world have signed a joint declaration denouncing the attempt by lawmakers from Spain’s Popular Party to fast-track a bill that would limit Spanish courts’ ability to investigate and prosecute serious crimes under international law.
Newsletter N° 264 - 24 February 2014
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
AEDH in the news: “This great Europe that is alien to us”
The Spanish newspaper "El diario" published yesterday (11/02/2014) an article written by Rafael Lara, APDHA’s representative and AEDH’s General Secretary, about the campaign launched by AEDH and its members in view of the European elections in May 2014.
Deaths at the border of Ceuta - AEDH calls for the launch of a committee of inquiry – Press Release 11th February 2014
Condemning the countless people found dead while trying to cross the border between Morocco and Ceuta/ Melilla, as well as the inhumanity of governments that install barriers with sharp blades at borders, AEDH considers that there is an urgent need to break with this obsessive determination to close borders and to reject any foreigners, without considering humanitarian issues or respecting the right to asylum. It also calls for the launch of a committee of inquiry to establish the responsibilities.
News from our network – EMHRN published its analysis of the Mobility Partnership signed between the European Union and Morocco
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In its analysis published on 11th February, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) believes that the negotiations signed last June between the EU and Morocco pose a threat to the preservation of the rights of migrants.
Employment of third country seasonal workers: a useless directive! - Press release 6th February
On the occasion of the adoption by the European Parliament of the directive "on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of seasonal employment", AEDH is asking for an all-embracing status of labour migration based on equality of rights regardless of the nationality and calls upon the European institutions to break with the utilitarian logic of labour migration.
Newsletter N° 263 - 3 February 2014
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
« For the formal recognition of a European citizenship based on residence »
The magazine "Diasporiques" has devoted its December 2013 issue to Europe. Therefore, it has transcribed a debate that has brought together Catherine Teule, Charles Conte, Bernard Delemotte, Philippe Lazar and Gilles Manceron about the formal recognition of a "European citizenship based on residence" that would grant the same rights to all those who reside in Europe, regardless of their personal status.
Members’ news – Belgium: Activities focusing on the access to economic, social and cultural rights
Under the thematic cycle “Le bruit des droits qui craquent”, the Ligue des Droits de l’Homme will offer throughout the year activities focusing on the access to economic, social and cultural rights.
News from our networks - HRDN “Stand 4 Human Rights” campaign
As the 2014 European elections approach, the Human Rights and Democracy Network has launched its European elections campaign: “Stand 4 Human Rights”. The aim of the campaign is to encourage individual candidates hoping to become Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to pledge to enhance the role of the European Parliament as a global actor on human rights and democracy.
AEDH comments on the Data Protection Day - Press release 27 January 2014
Privacy and personal data protection shall not be sacrificed at the altar of economic interest and security matters. On the occasion of the international Data Protection Day, AEDH would like to recall that the respect of privacy and personal data protection are indefectible fundamental rights.
News from our networks - REMDH press release on the continuous violation of Human rights in Egypt since the fall of Mubarak
Three years after Mubarak regime’s fall in January 2011, EMHRN assesses the situation in Egypt and considers that it is time for the European Union to take action amidst widespread impunity for human rights violations and shrinking space for democratic expression.
The future EU Programme on Asylum and Migration: Statement by the European NGO Platform on EU Asylum and Migration (EPAM)
In the framework of the public consultation procedure launched by the European Commission allowing civil society organizations to express their views on the future of the Stockholm Programme, AEDH and the other members of the European NGO Platform on Asylum and Migration (EPAM) have identified a list of key-priorities dealing with asylum and migration.
LIBE Committee backs EU-Turkey readmission agreement (22/01/2014)
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the European Parliament has endorsed the EU-Turkey readmission agreement signed by both parties on 16 December 2013.
The future of the Stockholm Programme: AEDH claims a Europe of fundamental rights for all! - Answer to the Commission’s consultation (21/01/2014)
AEDH seizes the opportunity to express its point of view on the European policies in the field of justice and home affairs (JHA), in the framework of the public consultation launched by the European Commission on the future of the Stockholm Programme.
Unions & NGOs urge Parliament to scrutinise Greece’s Human Rights record
Twenty trade unions, human rights and civil society organisations from across Europe sent a letter to the President of the European Parliament to ask him to undertake a Report on the situation of human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Greece.
New website on migration and asylum
If you are interested in the European policy on migration and asylum, we inform you about a new website dedicated to these topics.
Newsletter N° 262 - 20 January 2014
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Last speech of the EDPS on the need to reform the European legislation on data protection and the current threats to net neutrality
In the last speech of his term, which expired this Wednesday 16th of January, Peter Hustinx who was the European Data Protection Supervisor from 2004 to 2014 emphasized the importance of the reform of the EU data protection framework and the current threats to net neutrality.
Members’ news - France: "Evacuation of Roma to unbearable, unjustifiable, unnecessary and expensive levels"
Joint press release of LDH and ERRC reporting a resurgence of forced evictions of Roma families in France throughout 2013.
News from our networks - “TURKEY: Four years on, Muharrem Erbey still in pre-trial detention”
In a press release of 10th January a coalition of NGOs denounced Turkey for the continued arbitrary detention of Muharrem Erbeyand - a human rights lawyer - and for the harassment targeting human rights defenders in the country.
Members’ news - France: «Against anti-Semitism, French republican principles must prevail»
Statement of the "Ligue des droits de l’Homme" (6/01/2014)
Concerning Delay in appointing the new EDPS
On the 7th of January, Peter Hustinx, the current Chair of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) wrote to the European Institutions to express his concerns about the delay in the procedure to appoint a new EDPS.
AEDH and ADHR-BG condemn recent events in Bulgaria - Joint Statement
Abuse of power, crime against the rights and freedoms of EU citizens and violation of the law and public order are what passengers of commercial flight Sofia - Varna witnessed on the 6 January 2014. What is very alarming is that it was caused by MPs, members of a Bulgarian nationalist political party. AEDH and ADHR-BG are condemning these events and are calling the Bulgarian authorities to take the appropriate measures to guarantee all EU citizens, migrants and asylum-seekers their rights and freedoms as established by EU treaties and legislation.
UNHCR’s recommendations to Greece for the EU presidency
The UNHCR addressed to Greece for the EU Presidency (from January 1 to June 30, 2014) some recommendations related to the asylum policy of the European Union and the future of the Stockholm Programme.
Newsletter N° 261 - 20 December 2013
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Visit the INSEROM project’s website !
With four of its members, AEDH is involved in a European project on the rights of Roma persons. INSEROM, as it is called, aims at empowering the Roma communities residing in the partners’ countries by making them knowledgeable about their rights, at national and European levels, for them to be able to defend these rights and to fight the discrimination they are facing.
18 December 2013: International Migrants Day
On the occasion of the International Migrants Day, several activities have been organized in the Member States. The International Migrants Day is celebrated on 18 December to commemorate the afont-size: medium;/pdoption of the “International convention on the protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families” of 18 December 1990. The EU Member States have not yet ratified the convention.
EYCA : « It’s about Us, It’s about Europe! Towards Democratic European Citizenship!”
On 12th and 13th December 2013, the Closing Conference of the European Year of Citizens 2013 took place at the Lithuanian Parliament “Seimas” in Vilnius. During this event, the chair of European Year of Citizens Alliance (EYCA) officially handed over EYCA Policy Document: “It’s about Us, it’s about Europe! Towards Democratic European Citizenship” to EU Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding.
News from our networks: EMHRN report on the ‘Gezi Park’ protest movement in Turkey and its repression
On 12th December the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network published a report on the ‘Gezi Park’ protest movement in Turkey and its repression. The report condemns the massive interference by the Turkish authorities with the right to freedom of assembly and the use of excessive force against peaceful gatherings. Moreover, the report denounces the massive use of detention as a punishment for exercising peaceful protest, resulting in many documented cases in ill-treatment.
UE-Turkey readmission agreement: a threat to Human rights
Ahmet Davutoglu (Turkish foreign affairs minister) and the EU Commissioners Cecilia Malmström and Stefan Füle announced that on the 16th December Turkey will sign an agreement on the readmission of migrants entering the EU illegally from its territory; in exchange for signing the readmission agreement, the EU will open up the way for visa liberalization for Turkish nationals. AEDH is a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) that in June addressed to the European Union and Turkey some recommendations concerning the readmission agreement.
Rule of law under attack in Hungary – Joint Statement
Following new laws adopted by the Hungarian parliament over the last weeks, concerning for example the criminalisation of homelessness or the extension of the length of pre-trial detention, AEDH and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee call on the Hungarian Parliament and Government to respect the principle of the rule of law and Human rights.
Adoption of the Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures
On 9th December 2013, the Council of Europe adopted unanimously the Recommendation proposed by the Commission to improve the economic and social lives of Roma within the European Union (main areas: education, employment, healthcare and housing). This Recommendation is the strongest EU instrument for Roma inclusion.
Internship at the AEDH
The secretariat of AEDH in Brussels is currently offering internships for a 5 to 6 month period from End of February to July 2014.
EU-Tunisia Mobip style=lity Partnership: Externalisation policy in disguise
On 5th December, a ‘Mobility Partnership’ will be signed between EU and Tunisia. Within this context, AEDH, together with numerous organisations, is calling the EU and Tunisia to translate into concrete actions their commitments to promoting and protecting human rights, and to facilitate freedom of movement for all Tunisian citizens.
Members’ news - Luxembourg : Exhibition Soñando sueños
On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Luxembourg’s Ligue des Droits de l’Homme invited the Spanish artist Elpuentea (Carlos Puente) to illustrate the thirty articles of the Declaration.
Member news: Call for demonstration: "Let’s walk against racism"
Following several acts and words illustrating the resurgence of racism and anti-Semitism in France, the League for Human Rights and other French organisations are calling for demonstration, on November 30th, against racism and to defend the idea of a fraternal, united and mixed-race France where every individual can live in equal dignity.
News from our networks: “Violence against women, bleeding wound in the Syrian conflict” - EMHRN report
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2013, the Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) releases a new report “Violence against women, a bleeding wound in the Syrian conflict” that sheds light on the increased use of rape, torture and other forms of violence against women in in Syria.
« The right to leave a country »: Research paper of the Council of Europe
The research paper of the Council of Europe on « The right to leave a country »shows concerns about the deleterious effect on human rights of the externalization of border control policies of the European Union. Readmission agreements and illegal push-backs of migrants figure among the measures of externalization.
Report: « FOR A EUROPE OF HUMAN RIGHTS » - the manifesto of AEDH and its members presented to MEPs
On Tuesday 12 November 2013, the representatives of AEDH and its member leagues met with some members of the European Parliament during the conference « For a Europe of Human Rights ». This conference closed the AEDH Extraordinary General Assembly of 11th and 12th November. At the same time, the conference was the starting point of the campaign of AEDH and its members in view of the 2014 European Parliament elections “For a Europe of Human Rights&r/pdquo;.
Report: Conference-debate "Crisis: Europe at the service of people?"
On Monday 11th November 2013, AEDH and other associations co-organised a conference-debate : « Crisis : Europe at the service of people ? ». During this conference, several speakers were invited to discuss the situation of economic and social rights in the European Union since the economic crises and to assess the impact of the crisis on European democracies and integration.
EDPS concerned about provisions against the ‘net neutrality’ in the proposal of a Regulation /plugins/fckeditor/userfiles/image/Logo-REMDH.jpg on a European single market for electronic communications
EDPS released an opinion on the European commission proposal for a Regu/plugins/fckeditor/userfiles/image/LDH%20France.jpglation ohttp://www.aedh.eu/Newsletter-No-261-20-December-2013.htmln a European single market for electronic communications, warning about the various measures which would undermine the princp style=iple of net neutrali/a 3ty.
News from our networks - Greece - Turkey: ‘The route is dangerous, people are dying’
Joint press release of FIDH, EMHRN and Migreurop on systematic human rights violations against refugees at the Greek Turkish borders (18/11/2013)
Members’ news - Spain: "Rights for all"
APDHA has launched its new informative campaign on migrants rights.
Members’ news - Cyprus: Failure to provide protection and safeguard the rights of unaccompanied minors
Santos arr/spantext-align: justify;quot;ived in Cyprus in October 2004 and his story illustrates the failure of the Cypriot State to provide protection and safeguard the rights of unaccompanied minors.
Members’ news - France: “Let’s banish stupidity and cynicism, let’s reject hatred and racism”
Joint statement of the "Ligue de l’enseignement" and the "Ligue des droits de l’Homme" (15/11/2013)
AEDH and its member leagues in the Spanish news
On 13 November 2013 the « Radio Nacional de España » broadcasted an interview with Rafael Lara, spokesperson of the Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía (APDHA).
AEDH General Assembly & Presentation of the manifesto « For a Europe of Human Rigths » at the European Parliament
From 10th to 12th November representatives of AEDH member leagues met in Brussels to talk about their Human rights campaign in view of the European elections.
Newsletter N° 260 - 8 November 2013
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Conference: “FOR A EUROPE OF HUMAN RIGHTS”
AEDH invites to the conference “For a Europe of Human Rights” that will take place on 12th November at the European Parliament. AEDH will present the manifesto « For a Europe of Human rights » developed by AEDH and its members and discuss it with MEPs of the different political groups.
Conclusions of the European Council speak of delaying the adoption of the data protection reform package
The Conclusions of the European Council of these 24th and 25th of October speak of delaying the adoption of the data reform package by 2015.
Conference-debate “CRISIS: EUROPE AT THE SERVICE OF PEOPLE?” (11/11/2013)
AEDH and its Belgian members - the ‘Ligue des Droits de l’Homme’ (LDH) and the ‘Liga voor Mensenrechten’- and Bruxelles Laïque invite you to the conference-debate: “Crisis: Europe at the service of people?”
Newsletter N° 259 - 25 October 2013
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
« Migratory flows in the Mediterranean» : European Parliament Resolution
The plenary assembly of the European Parliament adopted on Wednesday (23 October 2013) the resolution “Migratory flows in the Mediterranean, with particular attention to the tragic events off Lampedusa”.
Member News: France condemned by the ECtHR
On 17th October, the European Court of Human Rights (EctHR) condemned France for the expulsion of a camp of Travellers without providing adequate alternative housing.
Non-binding resolution by the Parliament in favour of the suspension of the EU TFTP agreement with the US
On Wednesday 23rd of October, the European Parliament has voted a non-binding resolution in favour of the suspension of the EU Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) agreement with the US.
EU migration and asylum policy: letter to the European Council
Ahead of the European Council summit, AEDH, together with several organisations based in the north and the south of the Mediterranean, calls on the heads of State and government to abandon security-oriented and repressive asylum and immigration policy.
Member news: Manifesto for the support of Roma families
On 16th October,the Ligue belge des droits de l’Homme, Médecins du Monde and Ciré called on politicians to sign a manifesto to support Roma families living in Belgium to ensure they enjoy their basic rights.
EDPS welcomes the outcome vote of the LIBE Committee
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) declared that “[t]he vote by the LIBE Committee is an important step towards stronger and more effective data protection in Europe”.
LIBE committee voted on the data protection reform package
LIBE committee approved the amendments to the Proposal of a general data protection Regulation and of a separate Directive for the law enforcement sector.
Newsletter N° 258 - 18 October 2013
Each week, AEDH releases a Newsletter focusing on European News regarding Human rights.
Member news : « Stop the expulsions ! »
The French League for Human rights (LDH) welcomes and supports the mobilization of the students that are demonstrating today in France to support Leonarda Dibrani and Khatchik Kachatryan.
Nerwork news: “Lesvos/ Greece: the new European cage for migrants”
The Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), Migreurop, Welcome to Europe and Youth without Borders do not accept any more the detention of migrants, seen as the symbol of the violence of the European border system.
Member news: The right to an effective remedy may be at risk in France
The French League for Human Rights (LDH) asks for the removal from the Decree of 13 August 2013 of the provisions that will deprive labor and social disputes of the benefit of the two-stage procedure.
Workshop on the European project « INSEROM »
Within the framework of the INSEROM project, AEDH is taking part, on 17th and 18th October, to a workshop organised by Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía (APDHA). Based on training tools, the project is aimed at promoting citizen participation and social integration of Roma communities through human rights education.</
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