July 28, 2021 marks the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Refugee Convention. The “Convention relating to the Status of Refugees” – the actual title of the most important international document for the protection of refugees – defines who is a refugee and what protection and rights a refugee is entitled to. However, the rights of refugees are being trampled on at the EU’s external borders and the principle of non-refoulement of people seeking protection – one of the core elements of the Geneva Refugee Convention – is being systematically broken. The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association sharply criticizes this and demands compliance with international agreements at the EU borders as well as the protection and safeguarding of the human rights of those seeking protection.
According to an investigation report by the European Parliament, the EU border protection agency Frontex was not only aware of numerous human rights violations, breaches of the law and illegal pushbacks (including the use of force), but also systematically covered this up under the leadership of its Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri. In addition, eyewitness reports, video recordings and national and international media research prove that Frontex was also actively involved in illegal pushbacks.
“It is unacceptable that an EU agency is involved in human rights violations,” explains Katja Labidi, HVD Federal Commissioner for Refugees and Migration. The European Parliament’s report has emphatically shown that Frontex Director Leggeri has lied to the European Parliament on several occasions, deceived it and covered up human rights violations, Labidi continued. “The breaches of the law and human rights violations must be fully investigated, made transparent and prevented from being repeated in the future through independent controls.”
Frontex has long been criticized for illegally turning back people seeking protection, holding secret meetings with arms lobbyists, failing to monitor its own work and not sharing enough information with the EU and other agencies. “Border protection must not be at the expense of human rights – or even human lives!” demands HVD board spokesperson Erwin Kress. It must be ensured that human rights and the legal basis of the Geneva Convention are respected at all costs. “This also means that people are saved from drowning – and not, as has been proven several times, that people are even deliberately brought into distress at sea and left behind.”
The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association developed “Humanist perspectives on refugee reception and policy” back in 2015. These can be here can be read here.
