Acting in solidarity with migrants and refugees in the EU has been difficult for years. Between 2015 and 2019, research shows that at least 171 individuals have been criminalised for solidarity actions with people who fled their homes in 13 EU Member States. And its not slowing down.A new study, carried out by Picum and the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, maps new trends in criminalisation and elaborates on recommendations to be taken by the EU.The study found that between January 2021 and March 2022, no less than 89 people have been criminalised for helping migrants and refugees. These people provided food, shelter, medical assistance, or means of trans ki portation to people having to flee their home country. They also assisted with asylum applications. These numbers are likely to represent only a very minimal percentage of the people who are criminalised in the EU for their solidarity. It is very possible that many cases were not detected during our research.Our study found that the majority of cases of criminalisation of solidarity are likely to go unreported because of:
- the fear that media attention could further endanger the relations with the authorities and limit access to border areas or reception centres;
- the will to preserve the right to private life for volunteers and not to put them and their families at risk;
- or because of the preference of some human rights defenders to not speak out while trials are ongoing.
Authors
- Published in
- Belgium