Auteur/autrice : Boris Wijkström

Black Lives Matter (BLM) also in the Mediterranean

Policing the Central Mediterranean: mass drownings and systematic torture of persons of African descent : CSDM submission on racism in EU border control practices for the upcomming report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the subject of human rights violations by law enforcement agencies against Africans and persons of African descent.

European border control practices have made the Central Mediterranean the deadliest migration route in the world. Thousands of Africans drown every year because European states have decided not to put an end to preventable deaths but have instead obstructed independent NGO rescue operations. Thousands of other refugees and migrants are « pulled back » to Libya – with European assistance – where they face extreme violence including torture, rape, starvation and forced labour.

Today we have submitted information to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in view of the preparation of the report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers (Human Rights Council Resolution 43/1).

In our submission, we urge the High Commissioner to shed light on the illegal law enforcement practices in the Central Mediterranean and call for the establishment of international mechanisms to bring them to an end, including the creation of avenues for redress for victims.     

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I.D. c. Suisse, Comité pour les droits des enfants

L’affaire I.D c. Suisse concerne un demandeur d’asile non-accompagné arrivé en Suisse à l’âge de 15 ans en été 2018. Le SEM considère sans aucun motif fondé qu’il était majeur, et rend une décision d’expulsion vers l’Espagne sous le règlement Dublin. Cette procédure est menée de manière expéditive et sans que le requérant mineur soit assisté par une personne de confiance ou une représentation légale. Malgré le fait que la minorité de I.D. a été reconnu par le Tribunal de protection de l’adulte et de l’enfant (TPAE) du canton de Genève, le SEM et le TAF maintiennent qu’il est majeur, et confirment leur décision de renvoi sur réexamen. Cette procédure se caractérise par la violation de nombreux droits de I.D. découlant de la Convention relative aux droits de l’enfant, dont son intérêt supérieur (article 3). Aujourd’hui, après une procédure de deux ans et demi et une intégration extrêmement réussie en Suisse, il se voit menacé par l’expulsion vers l’Espagne qui lui causerait des dommages irréparables.

UN CAT inquiry: further informtion submitted jointly with OMCT on « Closed Ports » policy

On 26th June 2020, we asked the Committee against Torture to open an inquiry under Article 20 UNCAT into the responsibility of Italy for the systematic torture of migrants pulled-back to Libya. We have made a follow-up submission jointly with the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) informing the Committee on relevant developments along the Mediterranean migration route. These developments have occurred during the summer months when migratory movements across the Mediterranean reached their peak.

The issue set out in this further information concerns the repeated occurrence of sea vessels with rescued migrants being refused permission to disembark at a safe port by authorities in both Italy and Malta. As a consequence of refusing such permission, the vessels are prevented from docking at the nearest safe port from the point at which migrants are rescued in accordance with established principles of human rights and maritime law. This has resulted in the migrants enduring prolonged periods of time in the Mediterranean Sea on board a vessel without adequate resources or medical attention or the ability to seek protection under the Refugee Convention. For the reasons set out below, these occurrences are demonstrative of a « Closed Ports » policy and amount to evidence of a systematic practice of torture and  cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of migrants by both Italy and Malta.

Read submission here.

 

Poste de collecteur de fonds à temps partiel

Nous engageons un·e collaborateur·trice pour la recherche de fonds, pour un poste à temps partiel (environ 1 jour par semaine) pour une période de 4 mois à partir de janvier/février 2021. Le·la candidat·e doit avoir de bonnes connaissances du domaine des droits de l’homme et du milieu associatif. Si vous êtes intéressé·e, veuillez envoyer votre CV et votre lettre de motivation en français ou en anglais à info@centre-csdm.org avec le mot « Fundraiser » dans l’objet du message au plus tard le 30 novembre 2020. Nous vous contacterons dans un délai de trois semaines si nous souhaitons donner suite à votre candidature.

Vacancy for Part-time Fundraiser

We are recruiting a fundraiser for a part-time position (approx. 1 day per week) for a period of 3 – 4 months starting at the beginning of 2021. The candidate must have a solid understanding of the work of human rights NGOs like the CSDM and ideally be located in Switzerland. If interested, please send your CV and a cover letter in English or French to info@centre-csdm.org with the word “Fundraiser” in the message heading no later than 30 November 2020. We will contact you within 3 weeks if we wish to follow-up on your application. Due to resource constraints, we can unfortunately not reply to inquiries on the status of your application.