Defending Refugees in Europe

Date: 24rd of June 2022, 15h-20h00

Venue: ex-OPG “Je so pazzo”,  Naples

Via Matteo Renato Imbriani, 218 – 80136 (NAPLES) https://commonsnapoli.org/en/the-spaces/ex-opg-je-so-pazzo

Translation:  ITALIAN – ENGLISH

Moderation of the event: Margherita d’Andrea, lawyer: presentation of speakers and thematic thread of the afternoon

15h00 – 15h30

  1. Greetings

1. Thomas Schmidt, Co-Secretary General of ELDH, greetings on behalf of ELDH and AED

2. Antonio Tafuri, Lawyer, President of the Bar Council of Naples

3. Francesco Caia, Lawyer, National Bar Council, President of the “Osservatorio Internazionale Avvocati in pericolo” (OIAD https://protect-lawyers.org/it/)

4. Liana Nesta, lawyer: Introduction to the conference

16h00 – 16h45

  1. Refugee Rights: a European Perspective
  2.  Bill Bowring, (human rights barrister) What can be done for refugees at the European Court of Human Rights, now in crisis.
  3. Yiota Massouridou, (lawyer, Secretary General of AED) The Hot-Spot System and Pushbacks
  4. Danilo Risi, (Laywer, executive Committee of “Associazione Nazionale Giuristi Democratici”):  Ucrainian Refugees and effects of the mission of Giuristi Democratici and Mediterranea NGO from Naples to Poland: the national petition for the right of conscientious objection of Ukrainian men

16h45 – 17h00 Break

17h00 – 18h45

  1. Refugee Rights in Italy

9. Luigi Migliaccio, (Lawyer, member of the Commission on migration law of Bar Council of Naples and Commission of Human Rights Union des Avocats Européens – UAE): Family Reunification, latest jurisdiction

10. Francesco Priore, (Lawyer, Executive Committee of “Associazione Nazionale Avvocato di Strada”):  Complementary protections to the international protection

11. Nicola Canestrini (Lawyer): The Iuventa case

18h45 – 19h30

  1. An activist’s perspective

12. Simona Talamo, activist

13. Abdel El Mir, activist, Movimento Migranti e Rifugiati Napoli

Closing remarks: Hanno Bos, on behalf of AED & ELDH) Refugee Rights in Europe – The Massinflux Directive – Double Standards or a new progressive approach 

19h30 – 20h00 discussion

Empty all prisons now !! Svuotare le carceri, subito!!

What has been happening in the last few days in many Italian prisons (Modena, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Rome, Naples, Palermo, Padua, Florence, but the list is getting longer by the hour and it seems that there are already 27 prisons involved in the prisoners’ protest, with a number not exactly ascertained – even in its causes – of deaths – at least six – and injured, some of them very serious) was predictable: in a country where there are more than 61.000 prisoners in jail, with a capacity of 50,000 places, where for decades no pardon or amnesty has been seen (a term that has become almost heretical), where the criminalization of deviance and protest has become the norm, where someone talks about “throwing away the key” and someone else abolishes prescription and guarantees, the effect of the health emergency could not have been different.

 

In places where cohabitation is forced and turns into promiscuity, where health is not guaranteed even in ordinary times, where dozens of people live in overcrowded conditions, the terror of contagion multiplies and “security” is transformed into greater isolation. The blocking of parental visits, replaced by telephone conversations for which one has to deal with waiting in promiscuity, combined with the absence of the few services ensured, for the most part by volunteers who are now banned from entering, can only generate despair. Despair that can lead to violence against innocent people.

 

There is only one way out, especially at times like this: to reduce the danger of contagion as much as possible, but also the violence of despair. This imposes important choices, immediately practicable such as emptying prisons (and other places of detention, including migrant centres) of elderly and sick prisoners, with the immediate granting of home detention, probation and/or suspended sentences, as well as emptying prisons of those who have to serve short sentences; ensuring the effective communication with the outside world, guaranteeing information and health care.

It is urgent, indispensable, humane and respectful of individual rights and freedoms!

 

Later we will return to talk about amnesty, pardon and measures that put the unsustainability of this form of “doing justice” and “applying sentences”, dominated by an incapable and arrogant policy, at the centre of the discussion.

9th of March 2020

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Svuotare le carceri, subito

Appello congiunto di Giuristi Democratici e Legal Team Italia

Quello che sta accadendo nelle ultime ore in molti istituti di detenzione italiani (Modena, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Roma, Napoli, Palermo, Padova, Firenze, ma l’elenco si allunga di ora in ora e pare siano ormai già 27 gli istituti di pena coinvolti dalla protesta dei detenuti, con un numero non esattamente accertato —anche nelle cause— di morti — almeno sei— e feriti, di cui alcuni molto gravi) era ampiamente prevedibile: in un paese dove nelle carceri i detenuti sono più di 61.000, con una capienza di 50.000 posti, in cui da decenni non si vede un provvedimento di indulto o amnistia (termine divenuto quasi eretico), in cui la penalizzazione di ogni devianza e di ogni protesta è diventata norma, in cui qualcuno parla di “buttar via la chiave” e qualcun altro abolisce prescrizione e garanzie, l’effetto dell’emergenza sanitaria non poteva essere diverso.

In luoghi dove la convivenza è forzata e diventa promiscuità, in cui la salute non è garantita neppure in via ordinaria, in cui decine di persone coabitano luoghi angusti, il terrore del contagio si moltiplica, e le forme di “sicurezza” si trasformano in ulteriore isolamento. Il blocco delle visite parentali, sostituite con colloqui telefonici per cui bisogna affrontare attese in promiscuità, unite all’assenza di quei pochi servizi (assicurati in buona parte dal volontariato ora estromesso) non possono che generare disperazione. Disperazione che può sfociare in violenza contro soggetti incolpevoli.

C’è una sola via di uscita, tanto più in momenti come questi: ridurre quanto più possibile il pericolo del contagio, ma anche della violenza della disperazione. Ciò impone scelte importanti, praticabili subito, svuotando le carceri (e gli altri luoghi di contenzione, CPR inclusi) delle persone detenute anziane e malate, con l’immediata concessione di detenzione domiciliare, libertà vigilata e/o sospensione pena, oltre che di coloro che hanno pene brevi da scontare; garantire la fruizione effettiva delle possibilità di interlocuzione con l’esterno, garantire informazione e presidi sanitari.

È urgente, indispensabile, umano e rispettoso del diritto e dei diritti individuali. Per poi ricominciare a parlare di amnistia, indulto e misure che rimettano al centro della discussione l’insostenibilità di questo modo di “fare giustizia” e “applicare pene” cavalcato da una politica incapace ed arrogante.

9 marzo 2020

 

 

 

Sea Watch 3 and European Rights adrift

The grave case of the ship Sea Watch 3, which has been denied access to Italian ports after rescuing 42 migrants at sea and waiting for more than 14 days between Libya and Sicily for more than 14 days, is the case of fundmental rights in Europe.

Maritime laws requires the rescue of those in danger at sea through the identification of a place of safety.

 

The European Convention on Human Rights prohibits collective expulsions and inhuman and degrading treatment.

 

The Convention on the status of refugees imposes the principle of non-refoulement to a place where the person would be at risk of persecution.

 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to leave a country.

All these international treaties and conventions are violated for political interest.

In this case as in many other cases, people, at risk of dying at sea, escaping from war and Libyan concentration camps, are used as pawns in political negotiations and as instruments of propaganda.

By denying the landing in the port of Lampedusa, the Italian government violates these conventions and the rights of people; turning to the other side, the European governments and the European Union itself violate those conventions and the rights of those people.

The European Court of Human Rights, by not applying precautionary measures, is not justifying this situation,it is merely saying that it was not certain if  Italian jurisdiction was applicable because the Sea Watch 3 was still in international waters. Furthermore it decided there was no imminent danger to the lives of the people. Whether this decision is correct or not, it does not state that it is permissible to leave them at sea. Nor does it say that the Italian Minister of the Interior is right when he states that Lybia is a safe haven. The reports of all international organizations and UNHCR have long established that migrants in Libya are locked up in real concentration camps, tortured, mistreated, killed.

One day there will be a Nuremberg of the Sea, which will condemn those who today refused to help and legitimized torture in Libya, but we can not wait for this day.

As lawyers and as jurists, we strongly demand that human rights, the principles of international law and law be restored as soon as possible in Europe and in each of its Member States.

We demand

 

that Sea Watch and all ships working to save lives from shipwrecks and avoiding that migrants return  to Libya,

 

that shipwrecked people be allowed to go ashore and seek protection in Europe,

 

that it be recognised that those who save migrants at sea obey the rules of the natural right of solidarity, and  have committed no crime.

 

Il caso della Sea Watch 3 e la deriva dei diritti in Europa

 

Il gravissimo caso della nave Sea Watch 3, da oltre 14 giorni in mare tra la Libia e la Sicilia dopo aver salvato 42 migranti, alla quale è negato l’approdo nei porti italiani, ci interroga sul rispetto dei diritti fondamentali in Europa.

Il diritto del mare che obbliga al salvataggio di chi è in pericolo in mare e all’individuazione il più preso possibile di un place of safety, la Convenzione Europea dei Diritti dell’Uomo che vieta le espulsioni collettive e i trattamenti inumani e degradanti, la Convenzione sullo status dei rifugiati che impone il principio di non refoulement verso un luogo ove la persona sarebbe a rischio di persecuzione, la stessa Dichiarazione Universale dei Diritti dell’Uomo che sancisce che ogni individuo ha diritto a lasciare qualunque paese, sono calpestate per interessi politici e propagandistici.

In questo come in molti altri casi persone che rischiavano di morire in mare, fuggite dalla guerra e dai campi di concentramento libici, sono usate come pedine di trattative politiche e come strumenti di propaganda.

Negando l’approdo nel porto di Lampedusa il Governo italiano viola quelle convenzioni ed i diritti di quelle persone; girandosi dall’altra parte i Governi europei e la stessa Unione Europea violano quelle convenzioni e i diritti di quelle persone.

La Corte Europea dei Diritti dell’Uomo, non applicando misure cautelari, non giustifica tutto questo: essa si limita a dire che non vi è certezza della giurisdizione italiana sulla situazione in cui si trovava la nave (con una decisione presa quando la Sea Watch era in acque internazionali) e che non vi sarebbe un pericolo imminente per la vita di quelle persone. Corretta o meno che sia questa decisione, non dice che è lecito lasciarli in mare. Tantomeno dice che ha ragione il Ministro dell’Interno italiano, quando dice che un porto sicuro c’era ed era in Libia. I rapporti di tutte le organizzazioni internazionali e dell’UNHCR hannno da tempo accertato che in Libia i migranti sono rinchiusi in veri campi di concentramento, sottoposti a torture, maltrattamenti, uccisi.

Ci sarà un giorno una Norimberga del mare, che condannerà chi oggi ha rifiutato aiuto e ha legittimato le torture in Libia; ma non possiamo aspettare questo giorno.

Come avvocati e come giuristi chiediamo con forza che venga rispristinato al più presto in Europa e in ognuno degli Stati membri il rispetto diritti umani, dei principi del diritto internazionale, del Diritto.

Chiediamo che venga autorizzato l’approdo della Sea Watch e di tutte le navi che operano per salvare le vite umane dai naufragi e dal rischio di respingimento in Libia, che venga concesso ai naufraghi di scendere a terra e di chiedere protezione in Europa, che venga riconosciuto che chi li ha salvato ha obbedito alle regole del diritto naturale della solidarietà, e non ha commesso alcun reato.

 

 

Quand manifester n’est plus un droit mais un risque

Les manifestations des travailleuses et des travailleurs ce 1er mai ont à nouveau fait l’objet de violences d’Etat contre les manifestantes et les manifestants, notamment en France, en Italie: interdictions de manifestation au dernier moment, arrestations sans motif, utilisation de la violence par les forces de l’ordre, sous prétexte de sécurité publique, contre tout manifestant sans distinction de comportement ni de nécessité absolue de protéger les biens ou les personnes…

Ainsi, de nombreux manifestants ont été blessés hier, dont l’avocat au Barreau de Turin, Gianluca Vitale, membre du bureau de notre association et à qui nous apportons tout notre soutien fraternel.

Les violences du 1er mai viennent confirmer une tendance de ces dernières années dans les pays européens : il devient dangereux de manifester pacifiquement sans risquer de se faire gazer, frapper par les forces de police, nasser et empêcher de circuler librement, voire même arrêter par mesure préventive et sans raison légale.

Sous des prétextes sécuritaires, le droit de manifester se réduit jour après jour et la violence sert finalement aux Etats à faire taire toute opposition trop bruyante.

L’association des avocats européens démocrates rappelle pour sa part qu’elle défendra sans relâche les libertés d’expression collective ou individuelle, libertés fondamentales et nécessaires à toute société démocratique. Les avocates et les avocats de nos associations resteront toujours mobilisés pour défendre ces droits et les victimes de répression, quelles que soient les intimidations des Etats contre l’exercice de la défense.

 

When demonstrating is no longer a right but a risk

The workers’ demonstrations on the 1st of May were once again subjected to state violence against demonstrators, particularly in France and Italy: bans on demonstrations at the last minute, arrests without cause, use of violence by police forces, under the pretext of public security, against any demonstrator without distinction of behaviour or absolute necessity to protect property or persons…

Thus, many demonstrators were injured yesterday, including the lawyer of the Turin Bar Association, Gianluca Vitale, a member of our association’s board and to whom we give our full fraternal support.

The violence of 1 May confirms a trend of recent years in European countries: it is becoming dangerous to demonstrate peacefully without risk of being gassed, beaten by police forces, surrounded and prevented from moving freely, or even arrested as a preventive measure and without legal reason.

Under security pretexts, the right to demonstrate is being reduced day after day and violence is finally being used by States to silence any opposition that is too loud.

The Association of European Democratic Lawyers reminds us that it will relentlessly defend the freedoms of collective or individual expression, fundamental freedoms necessary for any democratic society. The lawyers of our associations will always remain mobilized to defend these rights and the victims of repression, whatever the intimidation of States against the exercise of the defence.

COMMUNIQUE: sur l’extradition de Cesare Battisti

Cesare Battisti, ancien membre du groupe “Les Prolétaires Armés pour le Communisme” durant les ‘années de plomb’, vient d’être extradé de Bolivie, où il venait de se réfugier après l’arrivée au pouvoir au Brésil, où il résidait auparavant, du candidat d’extrême-droite Jaïr Bolsonaro.

En 1988 il a été condamné par la Cour d’assises de Milan, par contumace, à la réclusion à perpétuité pour deux assassinats et deux complicités d’assassinat. S’il a toujours assumé politiquement son parcours, il s’affirme innocent des crimes qui lui sont reprochés : ils ont été commis entre juin 1978 et avril 1979 alors qu’il affirme avoir renoncé à la lutte armée suite à l’assassinat d’Aldo Moro le 16 mai 1978.

Emprisonné en 1979 puis condamné en 1981 pour “appartenance à bande armée”, il s’évade peu après et commence un long périple qui va le mener d’abord au Mexique, puis en France et enfin au Brésil.

Réfugié en France en 1990, il va bénéficier de fait de la “doctrine Mitterand”, se faire connaître comme auteur de plusieurs romans policiers, pris sous son aile par Fred Vargas, et reçoit le soutien de nombreuses personnalités. La Chambre d’instruction de la cour d’appel de Paris ayant rendu un avis favorable à son extradition en juin 2004 et le président Chirac allant y donner suite – alors que sa demande de naturalisation allait aboutir -, il prend la fuite pour se réfugier au Brésil.

Arrêté en mars 2007, il sera relâché en juin 2011 et le Conseil National d’Immigration lui accordera le statut de résident permanent, le président Lula ayant entretemps refusé son extradition le 31 décembre 2010…sur laquelle la justice brésilienne s’est prononcée finalement favorablement en octobre 2018. Les faits pour lesquels il est poursuivi, et qu’il conteste, remontent à 37 ans.

Une amnistie serait la bienvenue, ou à tout le moins l’assurance d’un nouveau procès véritablement équitable. On peut en douter au vu des dernières déclarations du ministre de l’Intérieur, d’extrême- droite, Mattéo Salvini, véritable homme fort de l’actuel gouvernement italien. En tout état de cause, nous espérons que Battisti se verra néanmoins accorder les droits qui sont dus à toute personne soumise à la justice italienne, tout en respectant le principe constitutionnel selon lequel la punition ne peut jamais être une vengeance de l’État et que les droits et le respect de sa dignité sont toujours garantis au condamné.

18 janvier 2019

Aquarius: le naufrage des valeurs européennes

 

14/06/18

Aquarius: le naufrage des valeurs européennes

L’Espagne vient d’accepter d’accueillir les 620 passagers de l’Aquarius. C’est tout à son honneur mais cela ne saurait dédouaner les autres pays européens de leurs responsabilités, à commencer par l’Italie, laquelle a violé ses obligations spécifiques en droit international et interne, exposant les personnes à bord à des risques pour leur vie.

Comme le rappelle l’Associazione per gli Studi Giuridici sull’Immigrazione dans son communiqué, l’obligation de porter assistance et de permettre l’accostage dans un lieu sûr incombe principalement à l’État côtier. Le navire se trouvant dans une situation telle que la vie des personnes à bord est menacée, quel que soit le statut de ces passagers, jouit d’un “droit” d’accès au port et ce conformément à la Convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer.

En refusant de porter secours aux rescapés de l’Aquarius, lesquels avaient des besoins élémentaires tels que boire, manger mais également nécessitaient des soins médicaux  urgents, l’Italie les a exposé à un risque grave pour leur vie.

Ainsi, sous des prétextes nauséabonds de refus des migrations, les Etats européens en arrivent à mettre en danger la vie de femmes, d’hommes et d’enfants, que ce soit en Méditerranée, dans les Alpes, La Manche ou La Mer du Nord.

Cette situation dramatique risque de se répéter compte tenu d’une part des situations de guerre, de mutations climatiques et de crises économiques qui frappent de nombreux pays, et de l’égoïsme des gouvernements européens d’autre part.

Elle illustre le naufrage des valeurs européennes de solidarité à l’origine de la construction de l’Union et le cynisme des gouvernements européens tels que celui de la France, la Belgique, l’Italie ou la Hongrie qui se renvoient mutuellement leurs responsabilités sans les assumer.

L’AED se joint à l’appel de l’ASGI à l’endroit de toutes les forces démocratiques pour s’assurer que les obligations d’hospitalité soient respectées par les Etats européens.

 

14/06/18

Aquarius: the shipwreck of European values

Spain has just accepted to host 620 passengers from the ship Aquarius. It’s all to it’s credit but this does not discharge other European countries of their responsibilities, starting with Italy, which has violated its obligations in international and domestic law, putting the lives of people on board at risk.

As the Associazione per gli Studi Giuridici sull’Immigrazione recalls in its statement, the obligation to bear assistance and to allow berthing in a safe place is responsibility of the coastal state. The ship, in which the life of those on board is threatened, whatever the status of these passengers might be, enjoys a “right” of access in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea.

By refusing to rescue the survivors of the Aquarius, who had basic needs such as drinking, eating but also required urgent medical care, Italy has put their lives at risk.

Thus, under nauseating pretexts of refusing migrants, European states endanger the lives of women, men and children, whether in the Mediterranean, in the Alps, The Manche or in the North Sea.

This dramatic situation is likely to be repeated given war, climate change and economic problems afflicting many countries, as well as the egoism of European governments on the other hand.

The fate of the Aquarius illustrates the wreckage of European values ​​of solidarity, at the origin of the construction of the European Union and the cynicism of European governments such as France, Belgium, Italy or Hungary who remind each other’s responsibilities without assuming their own.

The AED joins the call of ASGI for all democratic forces to ensure that fundamental obligations of hospitality are respected by all European states.

 

14/06/18

 

Aquarius: l’affondamento dei valori europei

La Spagna ha appena accettato di accogliere i 620 passeggeri dell’Acquario. È a suo merito, ma non assolve gli altri paesi europei dalle loro responsabilità, a cominciare dall’Italia, che ha violato i suoi obblighi specifici nel diritto internazionale e interno, esponendo le persone a bordo a rischi per la propria vita.

Come ricorda l’Associazione per gli Studi Giuridici sull’Immigrazione nel suo comunicato, l’obbligo di fornire assistenza e di consentire l’approdo in un luogo sicuro è principalmente di competenza dello Stato costiero. La nave in una situazione in cui la vita delle persone a bordo è minacciata, indipendentemente dallo status di tali passeggeri, gode di un “diritto” di accesso al porto in conformità con la Convenzione delle Nazioni Unite sul Diritto del mare

Rifiutando di salvare i sopravvissuti dell’Acquarius, che avevano bisogni basilari come bere, mangiare ma necessitavano anche cure mediche urgenti, l’Italia li esponeva a un serio rischio per le loro vite.

Così, sotto i pretesti nauseanti del rifiuto della migrazione, gli stati europei mettono in pericolo la vita di donne, uomini e bambini, sia nel Mediterraneo, nelle Alpi, nella Manica o nel Mare del Nord .

Questa drammatica situazione si ripeterà alla luce delle guerre, dei cambiamenti climatici e delle crisi economiche subite da molti paesi e così come dell’egoismo dei governi europei.

L’Aquarius illustra l’affondamento dei valori europei di solidarietà, all’origine della costruzione dell’UE e il cinismo dei governi europei come quello di Francia, Belgio, Italia o Ungheria che si rimandano reciprocamente le proprie responsabilità senza assumerli.

L’AED aderisce all’appello dell’ASGI indirizzato a tutte le forze democratiche per garantire che gli obblighi di ospitalità siano rispettati dagli stati europei.

THE VIOLENCE IN BOLZANETO IS CONFIRMED

THE VIOLENCE IN BOLZANETO IS CONFIRMED

WE HAVE TRUTH BUT NO JUSTICE

Seven years after the events and four years after the beginning of the trial, the Court of Genoa has only partially done justice to the victims of the Bolzaneto lager.

The gravest violations of fundamental rights have been confirmed like the inhuman treatment of the detained and the violence. The officers responsible of the structure have all been condemned. We wait to know the motivations of the sentence to evaluate some parts that seem inexplicable at the moment like absolving some of the accused for facts that seem confirmed, particularly the crimes of falsehood) and the mildness of some of the convictions in the sentence. The absence of a law that punishes torture and the reigning conspiracy of silence amongst those that belong to the Forces of Order has prevented a harder sentence, more in accordance with the seriousness of the ascertained facts.

We retain as positive the fact that the truth has been confirmed, that is, what was denounced and related by the victims of Bolzaneto. We also retain as positive the only part of the condemnation that is not symbolic: a compensation for the damages in the form of a payment of 10.000 euros for those who have suffered the violence and for their families. The conviction to compensate the damages has included the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Justice, proving the full responsibility of the State in the ascertained facts. Due to the prescription of the crimes and the application of the Italian law regulating indult, the compensation of damages is the only tangible effect of this trial, which will not compensate the suffering of the victims and the permanent consequences of the physical and psychological violence.

The determining fact has been the contribution of the lawyers of the plaintiffs who from the start where alone in gathering the complaints, demanding investigations and pushing the public powers to start this trial. Other than the many Italian lawyers, numerous lawyers from Europe have been directly present at the trial and have given useful contributions. Many of these lawyers are part of the European Democratic Lawyers’ Association (EDL).

Now that through public debate the events that took place in Bolzaneto have been ascertained, events that are unworthy of democratic state, we ask the government to apologize to the victims of Bolzaneto, takes measures against the condemned officers and proceed immediately to the payment of the due sums.

15/7/2008
EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS www.aed-edl.net
LEGAL TEAM ITALIA www.legalteamitalia.it