SPAIN: Amnesty International deeply disappointed with EU 'Returns' Directive permitting the detention of innocent migrants

Record ID: 348159

  • Title: SPAIN: Amnesty International deeply disappointed with EU 'Returns' Directive permitting the detention of innocent migrants
  • Date: 21st June 2008
  • Summary: (EU) AT SEA OFF CANARY ISLANDS COAST, SPAIN (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MARITIME RESCUE ASSISTING AFRICAN MIGRANTS ADRIFT
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAEMYGCT3SD6OBHLPI8E0Q8TZ10
  • Story Text: Amnesty International Secretary-General Irene Khan says "Having no documents does not mean you have no rights", after a new EU directive in migration on World Refugee Day.
    Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan said in Madrid on Friday (June 20) that although the organisation recognises that states and the EU have the right to control borders this should never happen at the expense of undermining the human rights of migrants.
    Coinciding with World Refugee Day, Khan expressed deep disappointment with the adoption of a EU directive allowing member states to lock up people who have not committed any crime.
    The European Parliament agreed on Wednesday (June 18) on a law that allows illegal immigrants to be detained for up to 18 months. The new limit is longer than the maximum detention in two-thirds of the 27 EU states.

    "Migration is a huge challenge here in Spain because it is the frontline of arrivals. Migration is a huge challenge throughout Europe but governments need to recognize that migrants have rights and that in some cases migrants are extremely vulnerable, unaccompanied minors, people without paper, they need to be protected when they arrive in Europe," she told Reuters.
    Khan said the directive would criminalise immigrants who were innocent of any crime, giving them similar prison terms to those who serving sentences for serious offences. She also said that effects on future society under those rules would be very negative.

    "If a human rights approach to migration is not promoted then we see more human rights abuses taking place. We will also see a reaction against migrants which will be very negative, and increasing rise of racism and xenophobia, attacks, very negative. Also restriction on asylum and refugees.
    That is very bad. It's bad for Europe, it's bad for human rights, it's bad for migrants and this is why we are asking Spain, which has made migration a big issue in its agenda, to take a leadership role," Khan said.
    Thousands of illegal immigrants attempt the journey from Africa to Spain's Canary Islands every year in open-topped wooden boats. Many die trying to reach Europe in search of work.
    The EU executive estimates there are up to 8 million illegal migrants in the bloc. More than 200,000 were arrested in the first half of 2007 but less than 90,000 expelled.
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