Council of Europe Human Rights
Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic said on Monday she was struck by
the alarming level of tolerance in Europe towards rights'
violations against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.
"I am struck by the alarming level of tolerance towards serious
violations of the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and
migrants that has developed across Europe," said Mijatovic in a
statement on the eve of World Refugee Day on June 20.
"Reports of violations of the human rights of refugees, asylum
seekers and migrants are now so frequent that they hardly
register in the public consciousness," she added.
"For their part, the governments of Council of Europe member
states, instead of holding each other accountable on the basis
of shared standards, have too often tolerated or openly
supported the adoption of laws and policies that have
progressively removed human rights protections from people on
the move," continued Mijatovic, adding that "their collective
focus on deterrence and the transfer of responsibility to third
countries has created fertile ground for practices that
routinely violate the rights of refugees and migrants".
The Council of Europe Commissioner is on mission to Italy and on
Monday she was on the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa, which
acts as a stepping stone for many migrants and refugees seeking
safety and a better life in Europe.
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