Tunisia: NGOs express solidarity with refugee protest
A group of Tunisian and international NGOs have issued a statement expressing their solidarity with migrants and refugees protesting against the UNHCR in Tunisia.
refugee rights
EU Commission plans to give 3-year protection to Ukraine refugees
The European Commission has proposed granting automatic temporary protection for up to three years to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. This would include a residence permit and access to employment and social welfare.
Queer refugees: UNHCR wants more protections
The UNHCR has called for a better treatment of LGBTIQ+ people forced to flee their homes. The UN Refugee Agency is currently holding a roundtable conference focused on protections for LGBTIQ+ refugees and displaced people against persecution and violence.
EU-Turkey deal 'trapped people in endless waiting,' NGO says
Five years ago, the migration deal between the European Union and Turkey was signed. The deal has trapped migrants and refugees on the Greek islands, exacerbating mental health issues and re-traumatizing many, says NGO Intersos.
Asylum in Europe: Italian Bishops Conference urges safe access channels
Fondazione Migrantes, run by the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI), has presented its 2020 report on asylum rights. The report noted that "refugees are left ever more alone", underscoring the need for the Italian Church to continue to make itself heard on the issue.
'Deprived of their liberty': Long-term asylum seekers in Italy who test positive for COVID-19 sent to quarantine ships
An Italian association, ARCI, has expressed its "profound worries" after several asylum seekers housed in various structures across Italy revealed they are being tested and sent to quarantine ships off the coast when they test positive for COVID-19. Some of these asylum seekers have been in Italy several years.
Belgium: 'During this health crisis, the rights of migrants are not worth much'
In Belgium, migrants have been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic -- not only did they face difficulties in filing their asylum applications, the government has also imposed stricter regulations for accessing accommodation. Conditions for migrants have become extremely precarious, says the director of the NGO Ciré.
'Those two days changed my life': How a trip to Calais cemented one volunteer's desire to work with refugees
Sol Escobar is the chairperson of the Cambridge Assessment Refugee Support Committee in the UK. At the beginning of 2019 she went to Calais as a relief volunteer -- a trip that convinced her that she needed to do more to communicate refugee and migrant stories in order to change the narrative of them within the community.
Hungary should withdraw new asylum law: UN
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has called on Hungary to withdraw a new law that will see asylum seekers turned away at the border. The agency says the act could breach international and European laws.
Italy: Gamified app assists migrants with job search
A new, free app called Workeen was launched in Italy on the occasion of World Refugee Day. It is to help migrants, refugees and asylum seekers find work through a "serious game."
Europe is violating refugee rights, says commissioner
Europe’s human rights commissioner has blamed EU countries for trying to bypass laws. Dunja Mijatovic said some politicians promote the idea that migrants' rights should be sacrificed in order to protect borders.
The reluctant refugee: Majeda's story
Majeda Khouri was detained in Syria for peacefully protesting the Assad regime. After her release, raids on her house prompted her to leave -- first for Lebanon and eventually the UK, where she was granted refugee status. In London, she has founded her own catering business and helps other Syrian refugee women from poorer backgrounds use their own cooking skills to earn a living in London.