Amnesty International Warns Against Undermining Migrant Rights with European Border Guard Proposal

Amnesty International, a renowned human rights organization, has voiced concerns over the European Commission's proposal to create a European corps of border guards. The organization fears that this initiative may compromise the rights of migrants and refugees, particularly in their access to asylum and protection. Amnesty International emphasizes that the protection of the European Union's external borders must not come at the expense of human rights, and that international protection must remain accessible to all.

Key Takeaways:

• Amnesty International has expressed concerns over the potential undermining of migrant rights with the proposed European border guard system, citing the need to protect refugees' rights to protection and human rights of migrants and asylum-seekers.
• The organization has documented violations of human rights of migrants and refugees at the outer limits of the European Union, including in Greece, Bulgaria, and Spain.
• Amnesty International has called for a mechanism to ensure accountability for human rights violations at EU borders, emphasizing the need for quick and effective condemnation of such abuses.
• The organization has highlighted the existence of a "serious accountability gap" for human rights violations at EU borders.
• Amnesty International advocates for an individual complaints mechanism at Frontex, the European Borders Agency, to address human rights concerns related to migration.
• The organization has stressed that ensuring access to asylum is a fundamental obligation, rather than an option, and that no border management system should put up barriers to international protection.

Statistics:

• Amnesty International has documented human rights violations at the outer limits of the European Union, including in Greece, Bulgaria, and Spain.
• The number of "hot returns" (forced and immediate returns of people without granting them the right to apply for asylum) is not specified in the text.

Sources:

• Amnesty International
• European Commission
• European Borders Agency (Frontex)
• Agencia EFE S.A. (via COMTEX news wire service)