Today is International Human Rights Day. The first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948, reads: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should treat one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Article 14 states that everyone has the right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution in other countries. Human rights are universal, they apply to all people without exception and are non-negotiable. Human rights must always and unconditionally be guaranteed.
But the reality is different: Protection and respect for human rights are not universally implemented. According to the UNHCR, more than 82 million people are fleeing war and violence. Even on our doorstep, people seeking protection are being criminalized. The EU disregards the right of everyone to live in humane conditions and thus acts contrary to its own values.
Particularly at the EU’s external borders – in the Polish-Belarusian border region and on the Mediterranean – the human rights of people seeking protection are being violated to a considerable extent. Political decision-makers in Germany and Europe must finally take action and impose uncompromising sanctions against all those in power who tolerate or even encourage human rights violations. The resolutions of the Geneva Refugee Convention must be adhered to at all costs. Safe reception prospects for refugees and asylum seekers are needed.
We call for an end to the humanitarian crisis in the Polish-Belarusian border region: “All people who need help must be fully supported. It is unacceptable that children are starving or freezing to death on the eastern EU border. Political interests must not be carried out on the heads of people seeking protection. The human dignity and rights of these people are at stake. The EU, the German democratic parties and the new traffic light coalition must find and implement humane solutions here,” explains Erwin Kress, spokesman for the board of the HVD Federal Association.
We demand that the EU no longer hinder sea rescue in the Mediterranean, but finally support it: “The bodies of thousands of refugees lie in the wet grave of the Mediterranean. Every single death means individual suffering and despair. It is a complete failure of EU policy. EU member states are obliged to rescue people at sea. Rescue at sea is a human right and not a subject for discussion. The EU border protection agency Frontex is helping to deport refugees to Libyan camps where they are threatened with torture, rape and execution. This must finally stop!” demands Katja Labidi, HVD Federal Commissioner for Refugees and Migration.
Increasing the pressure on politicians
We call on civil society to send a clear signal to political decision-makers and to support initiatives that stand up for the rights of refugees in an open, tolerant and supportive manner. There are many projects worth supporting, some of which we would like to mention explicitly:
- The human rights organizations Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, medico international and Pro Asylhave long campaigned for the rights of people seeking protection.
- The indivisible alliance has compiled an overview of civil society involvement in the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border.
- The Green Light for Reception of the Sea Bridge campaign is committed to humanitarian aid and the solidarity-based reception of people seeking protection in the border region between Poland and Belarus.
- borderline-europe informs about and fights against human rights violations at the EU’s external borders.
- The organizations involved in civil sea rescue in the Mediterranean include SOS Méditerranée, Sea-Watch, Mare Liberum, Mission Lifeline, Sea-Eye and United4Rescue.
- The online platform Moving Cities shows inspiring local approaches from more than 700 European cities that are committed to a migration policy based on solidarity.
- Over 250 German municipalities have already declared their willingness to take in and welcome refugees as Safe Havens of the Seebrücke.
Each of us can support the demonstrations and protests, appeals for donations and petitions individually and at a local level. Together, we can make our outrage heard and increase the pressure on political decision-makers to act.
