The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic has provided a very succinct, very clear list of principles for European governments on how to take care of people running away from war in Ukraine. This will be useful to those who thought it would be a good idea to block Ukrainians from coming to Malta because of covid, and then said it was ok for them to come as long as they paid for their quarantine, and then said they won’t have to pay for their quarantine, and then said they only won’t have to pay for it if they can’t afford it.
Someone please stick this to Robert Abela’s fridge.
- Fully fund and deliver humanitarian assistance to people in Ukraine and refugees in neighbouring countries
- Eliminate barriers to entry to allow people to find safety
- Share responsibility for protection and reception among all European countries
- Ensure that all people fleeing the war can find safety, without discrimination related to nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other characteristic
- Provide protection with minimum procedural requirements, including through granting temporary protection
- Give full access to rights, such as accommodation, education, the labour market, social assistance, and health care
- Prepare protection and reception systems for more arrivals and in view of a potentially protracted situation
- Keep families together and facilitate their reunification across Europe
- Make available clear, accessible, and widely disseminated information on procedures and legal assistance
- Ensure national human rights institutions, NGOs and media can perform their work unhindered
You’re welcome.