“We are proud to bring a real change and to take concrete steps to serve justice to victims of human rights violations in our areas of operation in collaboration with several organizations around the world,” said the Euro-Med Monitor's team.
As a result of decades of armed conflicts and wars, the Middle East and North Africa region is considered a hub for human rights violations, while most perpetrators enjoy impunity which allows widespread violations and give the green light to commit further attacks.
Over the past decade, these violations have been unprecedented and often undeterred, which made people lose faith in efforts made by human rights defenders around the world. But despite the increasing frequency of persecution in the MENA region and Europe, we should appreciate the difference that hundreds of thousands of human rights defenders around the world make. Today, the difference we make is important, and we believe in what Professor Richard Falk, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Euro-Med Monitor, said, “It is important to continue the struggle despite frustrations and disappointment based on an ultimate faith in the triumph of justice.”
Saudi Arabia
On June 9, 2020, the Saudi authorities finally allowed conscience detainee Loujain Alhathloul to communicate with her family from prison after more than three weeks of prevention. The Saudi authorities were addressed and asked to allow Alhathloul to exercise her right to communicate with her family and to enable the family to check on her health. Last March, French MP, Virginie Duby-Muller, inquired the French Minister of State in charge of Equality between Men and Women, Marlène Schiappa, about the rights of women in Saudi Arabia, including Saudi prisoners of conscience.
Israel
In early June, an official investigation by the European Commission was carried out at the European Parliament about the EU’s purchase of drones from two Israeli companies to monitor asylum seekers. These companies provide services that are used to violate Palestinian civilians' rights. The MEP has worked for several days to question the European Commission and was provided with a detailed report about the deal.
Morocco
The decision to release suspect rapist of six-year-old child named Ikram was canceled after the Judge in the Court of Appeal of Agadir decided to continue holding the suspect on June 10, despite the witness of the victim’s father in favor of suspect. The Moroccan authorities were addressed to implement international conventions in the field of child protection in light of the increasing attacks on children and to increase penalties for the perpetrators of these crimes to ensure legal protection for children and the society.
Lebanon
The Lebanese Ministry of Labor moved 35 Ethiopian workers to a hotel on June 4 after some Lebanese families expelled and threw them at the consulate's road, leaving them to face an unknown fate as they are stranded due to the closure of airports due to COVID19. The Ethiopian workers' issue was raised with the Lebanese authorities to take the necessary measures to protect their rights and shelter them in an appropriate place. The Euro-Med called on the Lebanese government to commit to including domestic workers under its labor law and investigate violations against their rights.
Croatia
On June 18, the Croatian authorities held two policemen accountable for their assault against an Afghan asylum seeker. The increasing brutality and excessive force by the Croatian police against asylum seekers is worrying and the Croatian authorities should take an immediate action to stop those attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. The Croatian government should put an immediate end to all illegal and discriminatory practices against asylum seekers and open an independent investigation into such violations, and the European Union should take all necessary disciplinary measures against Croatia and investigate the flagrant violation of the Croatian police of EU laws and principles.
Libya
The United Nations (UN) established a fact-finding commission on June 22 to investigate violations committed by parties to the conflict in Libya, which constitutes a step towards accountability and justice for victims of violations. Over the past months, the international community was pressured to open an urgent and immediate investigation into violations committed in Libya, and to hold to account and prosecute those responsible and ensure accountability and compensation for the victims.