Allo stremo migliaia di profughi prigionieri dei trafficanti

Agenzia Habeshia, richiesta di aiuto

Le denuncia dell’Alto Commissario Onu per i Diritti Umani, Zeid Raad Al Hussein – che ha definito “inumani” gli accordi per il controllo dell’immigrazione sottoscritti tra l’Europa e la Libia – conferma gli allarmi che l’agenzia Habeshia lancia ormai da anni. Il blocco della rotta del Mediterraneo Centrale – dopo quelli del Mediterraneo Occidentale e Orientale – ha ridotto per il momento il flusso dei profughi e dei migranti dall’Africa verso l’Europa. Ma già si stanno aprendo altre rotte. E, soprattutto, questa diminuzione temporanea degli sbarchi è un risultato conseguito sulla pelle dei migranti. Un risultato, cioè, fatto pagare ai migranti, i soggetti più deboli e indifesi, con sofferenze infinite: torture, maltrattamenti sistematici, stupri e violenze di ogni genere, riduzione in schiavitù. Spesso la vita stessa.

L’ultima conferma dell’autentico girone infernale nel quale gli accordi Europa-Libia e, in particolare, Italia-Libia, hanno intrappolato centinaia di migliaia di disperati, è arrivato ad Habeshia in queste ore. Un giovane esule eritreo residente in Svezia ha ricevuto una drammatica richiesta di aiuto dal fratello minore, anch’egli fuggito per sottrarsi all’immensa prigione in cui la dittatura ha trasformato l’Eritrea. Arrivato in Libia dopo un viaggio denso di pericoli nel deserto, questo ragazzo è stato catturato da una banda di trafficanti. Attualmente è segregato in un capannone-prigione vicino alla costa, in una località che, a quanto ha sentito dire dai carcerieri, dovrebbe chiamarsi Kewsherif. La struttura apparterrebbe a un certo Abdu Selam. Tra quelle mura sono rinchiuse, insieme a lui, centinaia di persone: donne, uomini, numerosi bambini, praticamente abbandonati a se stessi. Da giorni non ricevono cibo e persino l’acqua da bere è scarsa e di cattiva qualità. Nessuna forma di assistenza. Altri 400 prigionieri, dopo aver pagato il riscatto per la traversata del Mediterraneo, sono stati trasferiti in un luogo diverso. Nessuno dei compagni rimasti nel capannone sa dire dove. Molti però hanno avuto notizia che nella zona ci sono numerosi altri lager del genere, con migliaia di detenuti in estremo pericolo e bisognosi di aiuto al più presto.

Il ragazzo che ha segnalato questa ennesima emergenza e alcuni suoi compagni sono raggiungibili ai seguenti numeri telefonici:

– 002189#####940, 002189#####815, 002189#####465, 002189#####790, 002189#####866

Habeshia fa appello all’Unione Europea, ai singoli Stati membri e in particolare al Governo italiano, all’Unhcr, all’Oim perché intervengano al più presto, con ogni mezzo possibile, per rintracciare e mettere al sicuro tutte queste persone.

In attesa della cancellazione degli accordi con la Libia e di una auspicabile, radicale revisione della politica europea sull’immigrazione, è questo l’unico modo per dare una prima risposta concreta al duro, giusto, drammatico richiamo arrivato dall’Alto Commissario Onu per i Diritti Umani

Agenzia Habeshia 

Roma, 15 novembre 2017

“How can we support States to receive large numbers of refugees in a safe and dignified manner?

Statement by H.E. Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer of the Holy See  to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva at the 2nd Thematic Discussion towards a Global Compact on Refugees Panel 2: “How can we support States to receive large numbers of refugees  in a safe and dignified manner?” 17 October 2017

Mr. Moderator,

The generous and admirable responses of those countries that, in spite of their own hardships, have kept their borders and hearts open to welcome refugees, ought to receive tangible and prompt support from the international community. In fact, without this solidarity, it would be impossible to assure “the widest possible exercise of their fundamental rights and freedoms” to which they are entitled1. 

The 1951 Convention clearly states that refugees are a common responsibility of the international community. As a consequence, the international community has to shoulder collectively the responsibility of assisting refugees. Thus, in the distribution of financial resources for development on the part of international institutions, special consideration ought to be given to refugee-hosting countries, for projects that benefit refugees but also “reward” the generosity of local families and communities. After all, these are “investments” in humanity and peace for the sake of the common good.

At the same time, however, while ensuring better preparedness for large movements of refugees, this should not serve as a pretext for “subcontracting” the responsibility for protection to certain countries simply because of their geographical proximity to unstable areas. Nor should it be a justification for the “containment” of movement of refugees, but should truly be an expression of genuine international cooperation and solidarity.

Mr. Moderator,

As Pope Francis reminds us, “defending the inalienable rights of refugees, ensuring their fundamental freedoms and respecting their dignity are duties from which no one can be exempted.”2   A responsible and dignified welcome of refugees “begins by offering them decent and appropriate shelter. The enormous gathering together of persons seeking asylum and of refugees has not produced positive results. Instead these gatherings have created new situations of vulnerability and hardship.”3

                                              

To enable States to receive large numbers of refugees in a safe and dignified manner entails expanding space for asylum, for humanitarian corridors to avoid unbearably long waiting periods, for family reunification, for resettlement and other durable solutions; it also entails promoting alternatives to detention; adopting policies and practices that guarantee religious freedom; raising awareness in public opinion regarding the underlying political causes and the search for peaceful solutions and co-existence.4 

It also means further developing effective partnerships and synergies to help provide medical, educational, and social services upon arrival. In this regard, it is important to include civil society, religious institutions and faith-based communities, as they can readily respond to arrivals and often provide emergency relief.

In sum, as the first U.N. High Commissioner for refugees, Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart put it: “The essence is to find a little place, which is not just a roof over one's head, not just a place to live in. It is […] a series of elements which together constitute a man's independence and therefore his freedom and his dignity.”5

I thank you, Mr. Moderator.

________________________________________
1 Cf. Preamble of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
2 Address of Pope Francis to the International Forum on Migration and Peace, 21 February 2017.
3 Address of Pope Francis, Ibid.
4 Responding to Refugees and Migrants: Twenty Action Points, Migrants and Refugees Section, Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
5 Address of Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Oslo, 12 December 1955.

How can we support receiving States to identify persons in need of international protection?

Statement by H.E. Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer of the Holy See  to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva at the 2nd Thematic Discussion towards a Global Compact on Refugees Panel 3: “How can we support receiving States to identify persons  in need of international protection?” 17 October 2017

Mr. Moderator, 

Best practices and lessons learned do not always stem from positive experiences, but rather quite the contrary. 

When faced with large-scale situations it is important that receiving countries, especially developing ones, be given timely support to scale up or establish appropriate procedures to ensure that those with international protection needs are duly recognized. In this regard, the Delegation of the Holy See wishes to stress that international protection has to be seen as a dynamic and actionoriented function, rather than an abstract concept, aimed at safeguarding the dignity and safety of persons.

The adoption of inadequate or unfairly strict acceptance policies and lengthy modalities for processing asylum claims impacts dangerously on the safety of persons in need of protection, with the end result being increased human suffering. 

Mr. Moderator, 

The securitization of border control and the wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers should not be seen as a dichotomy, but rather as mutually reinforcing. It is important to adopt inclusive and non-discriminatory national security policies that prioritize the safety and protection of citizens as well as those of refugees and asylum seekers fleeing armed conflict, persecution or widespread violence to find safety quickly by ensuring an expeditious screening and admission process.1

Indeed, an exclusively security-oriented approach ignores the tragedies that force people to seek protection elsewhere. Addressing the problem of identifying persons in need of international protection from the perspective of the uprooted, can help the international community to devise a more comprehensive and humane programme of action. In this regard, arbitrary and collective expulsions can never be a viable option. The principle of “non-refoulement” has to be respected in every case.

Finally, my Delegation wishes to draw attention to the increasing phenomenon of unaccompanied children seeking asylum, especially because this is frequently the direct result of the desperate situation of many families and because it is too often “solved” by an ambiguous system of detention. Could the panelists share some successful examples of policies and mechanisms in the identification of persons in need of protection that allow for greater sensitivity to the needs of refugee families, consistent with ethical legal provisions and practices?

I thank you, Mr. Moderator. 
                                             
 1 Responding to Refugees and Migrants: Twenty Action Points, Migrants and Refugees Section, Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

How can we support the inclusion of refugees in national systems and services?”

Statement by H.E. Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer of the Holy See  to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva at the 3rd Thematic Discussion towards a Global Compact on Refugees Panel 2: “How can we support the inclusion of refugees in national systems and services?” 18 October 2017

Mr. Moderator, 

While it is important to share the responsibility and burden of refugee reception and resettlement and to rightly stress what States are doing for refugees, it is also fair to ask ourselves: what are refugees doing for the host communities? 

Despite the tragedy and gravity of their situations, refugees bring their talents through knowledge, practical skills, experience, culture and spirituality that can enrich the receiving countries. The Delegation of the Holy See draws attention to the fact that so many are placed “on hold”, often at significant expense to host and donor countries, and wishes to elaborate briefly on two particular aspects that have been raised in the present panel discussion: education and health.

Today, over half of the refugees under UNHCR’s mandate are children, including a staggering 3.5 million refugee children aged 5 to 17 who did not have the chance to attend school last year.1 My Delegation wishes to highlight the critical importance of adopting policies that allow refugee children to access quality education from the early stages of their displacement, in order to protect them from human trafficking, forced labor and other forms of slavery. 

Schools are a form of protection where the safety of children can be monitored and fostered. It is important to enact policies which ensure that the primary and secondary education to which refugees have access meets the same standards of education received by citizens.2 

Mr. Moderator,

The importance of granting access to healthcare is self-explanatory. It is encouraging to hear that legislation is being passed to allow refugees to work, and to access national healthcare and education systems. The right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health should be exercised through non-discriminatory, comprehensive laws, policies and practices firmly rooted in the centrality of the human person and founded on the right to life.

In this regard, the health and well-being of refugees should not be considered as a separate variable from the health of the host population. The fear that refugees spread infectious diseases finds no evidence and ignores the tragedy of their situation. The integration of refugees into existing national health systems, plans and policies, could also help alleviate certain logistical barriers which have been too often experienced. 

Mr. Moderator, 

Access to education and healthcare inspires hope among refugees and greatly contributes to restoring their dignity. The Delegation of the Holy See wishes to encourage donor States to tailor aid and assistance to include the development of medical, educational, and social services infrastructure in hosting areas. A percentage of such assistance, as well as access to programs and services provided to refugees, could be also set aside for the benefit of local populations experiencing similar disadvantages. 

Let us keep in mind that, after all, the decision of our brothers and sisters to flee their home out of fear and desperation is a leap of faith in the solidarity and unity of the human family.

Thank you, Mr. Moderator

 1 http://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2017/9/59b6a3ec4/unhcr-report-highlights-education-crisis-refugee-children.html
2 Responding to Refugees and Migrants: Twenty Action Points, Migrants and Refugees Section, Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Respect to Human Rights Legal liability – Item 5

Statement by His Excellency Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič  Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva at the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations  and Other Business Enterprises with Respect to Human Rights Legal liability – Item 5 25th October 2017

Mr. Chair,
 “The twenty-first century, while maintaining systems of governance inherited from the past, is witnessing a weakening of the power of nation states, chiefly because the economic and financial sector, being transnational, tend to prevail over the political”1. Sometimes, as we will see, these economic entities “exercise more power than States themselves” 2. 

The financial crisis has demonstrated the difficulty of relying on business to voluntarily self-regulate. Economic theory has explained why we cannot rely on the pursuit of self-interest, and the experiences of recent years have reinforced that conclusion. In particular, weak and poor States suffer the consequences of an asymmetry in the international system whereby the rights of business companies are backed up by hard laws and strong enforcement mechanisms, while their obligations are backed up only by soft laws, like voluntary guidelines. Therefore, “there are numerous people, especially immigrants, who, compelled to work ’under the table’, lack the most basic juridical and economic guarantees.”3 Another concern regards the ability of international corporations partially to escape territoriality and carve for themselves an “in-between” existence that evades national legislation. This allows them to navigate national legislations, take advantage of regulatory arbitrage and choose the jurisdictions that may offer the best return in terms of profit. But profit cannot be the only rational goal of business activity. When human rights are neglected, a systemic exclusion of the vulnerable comes about.  What is needed is stronger norms, and stronger laws and regulations to ensure that those who do not behave in ways that are consistent with these norms are held accountable.

 In response to this challenge, it is important to recognize that there are good reasons why international law might devote specific attention to transnational corporations and in particular their accountability for human rights abuses. An international legal instrument has the potential to make corporations criminally, civilly, and administratively liable, while guaranteeing the protection of human rights, providing access to judicial remedy, and adding an important tool for accountability. The protection of human rights is traditionally understood as something within the realm of public law, including constitutional, administrative and criminal law. In this sense, it could be useful to assign to that branch of domestic law a predominant role in upholding human rights vis-à-vis potential corporate abuses. 

 Also of critical importance is the liability of financial institutions incentivizing, supporting, or financing projects that jeopardize the enjoyment of human rights.  The international legal instrument must also take these into consideration and address them. Financial institutions must be held accountable when the projects they promote replicate the devastating effects of corporate violations of human rights.  

 Article 19 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Controls provides a helpful precedent asking Parties to “consider taking legislative action or promoting their existing laws, to deal with criminal and civil liability, including compensation where appropriate.” It calls for international cooperation between host and home courts, and exchange of information.  A treaty to hold transnational corporations accountable for their violations of human rights should include a clear provision, such as this one, that enshrines this obligation of the State.

The Holy See is aware that there are no easy solutions to address the multifaceted challenges of business and human rights, or to provide the effective remedy and accountability that victims legitimately seek as a matter of urgency. We need international cross-border enforcement, including broader and strengthened laws, giving broad legal rights to bring actions that can hold companies that violate human rights accountable in their home countries.   Soft law—the establishment of norms of the kind reflected in the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights—are critical; but they will not suffice.  We need to move towards a binding international agreement enshrining these norms.  

Mr. Chair,  Legal liability for business enterprises in domestic law typically includes responsibility under criminal, civil and administrative law. Business liability is thus a combination of public and private law substantive and procedural elements. However, the reality shows that those affected by business abuses, especially in certain jurisdictions, tend also to use private law, which needs to be transformed to respond better to those challenges. Practice across jurisdictions is thus divergent, as noted by, among others, the report of OHCHR on Improving Accountability and Access to a Remedy.  In this sense, it could be critical that the offences need to be defined with sufficient clarity in the treaty and always on condition that criminal liability of the legal entity does not exclude the personal individual criminal responsibility of company directors or managers.

 States Parties to the agreement must adopt effective legislative and administrative measures, in accordance with their national legal systems and principles, to establish the legal liability of business enterprises for business conduct that result in human rights abuses at home and abroad. Such responsibility should, as appropriate, be criminal, civil or administrative. 
Thank you, Mr. Chair. 

1 Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter Laudato si, n. 175.
2 Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter Laudato si, n. 196.
3 Pope Francis, Address to Participants in the World Congress of Accountants. Rome, 14 November 2014.

Le rôle des religions dans le renforcement de la paix mondiale Genève

Intervention de Son Excellence Monseigneur Ivan Jurkovič, Nonce Apostolique,  Observateur permanent du Saint-Siège auprès de l’Office des Nations Unies à Genève, à l’occasion du Colloque International :  Le rôle des religions dans le renforcement de la paix mondiale Genève, le 7 novembre 2017

1. La paix n’est ni un rêve, ni une utopie, la paix est possible. Nous sommes réunis aujourd’hui pour réfléchir ensemble sur la paix et nous encourager mutuellement afin de rester engagés à sa recherche. Sur la scène internationale, des menaces de guerre et des conflits en cours bouleversent et ruinent la vie de millions de personnes : des villes sont détruites, des enfants sont tués et mutilés, des femmes sont violées et humiliées, des réfugiés et migrants s’entassent dans des camps. Une technologie de plus en plus sophistiquée produit continuellement de nouvelles armes comme par exemple, les drones qui ignorent la présence humaine et toute responsabilité éthique. Parmi les causes profondes de la violence qui remplit une grande partie de l’actualité, nous trouvons le terrorisme, la piraterie, les agressions pour le contrôle de ressources minérales, les fondamentalistes qui défigurent le vrai visage de la religion. De plus, le capitalisme financier sans régulation, la compétition pour le pouvoir et la soif démesurée du profit, sont aussi une terre fertile où les conflits se développent, où la paix est sacrifiée, et où la dignité humaine est gravement violée.

2.  Au cours du siècle dernier, le concept de guerre a changé de telle manière qu’aujourd’hui la plupart des conflits se déroulent à l’intérieur d’un Etat et 90% des victimes sont des civils. Le concept de paix n’est pas tout simplement l’absence de guerre, mais le résultat d’un processus de purification et d’élévation culturelle, morale et spirituelle de chaque personne, de chaque peuple ; c’est un processus dans lequel la dignité humaine est pleinement respectée. Le cœur humain doit changer pour que les armes et les conflits n’étouffent pas « l’Evangile de paix » (Act 10:36) qui nous rappelle sans cesse : « Heureux les artisans de paix car ils seront appelés les enfants de Dieu. » (Mt 5:9).

3. Selon un vieil adage, il vaut mieux allumer une bougie que maudire l’obscurité. Le message de Jésus qui appelle heureux les artisans de paix nous dit que la paix est à la fois un don messianique et le fruit des efforts humains. Lorsque les relations de coexistence sont inspirées par des critères de pouvoir, de profit, ou par la négation de la nature, la paix ne peut pas se réaliser. En effet, la paix concerne l’intégralité de la personne humaine et requiert un engagement total de l’homme. Elle est fondée sur quatre piliers :  la vérité, la liberté, l’amour et la justice. L’amour de Dieu pour l’humanité reste une source d’espoir et d’aide pour atteindre cette paix profondément désirée par le cœur de l’homme et la famille humaine. Notre action, toutefois, est nécessaire pour transformer l’espoir en une paix concrète. Une telle action s’étend de la dotation d’instruments indispensables au bien commun de toute l’humanité, à la sécurité et la coexistence pacifique et à une structure participative efficace de gouvernance, jusqu’à l’acceptation de tous les droits fondamentaux de l’homme et des mesures progressives comme l’interdiction des ventes d’armes, l’établissement d’un système de traçage pour le trafic des armes, l’éducation sur le coût humanitaire de l’utilisation de petites et grandes armes. Effectivement, la paix est un besoin vital de la famille humaine, un but à atteindre et un processus à entreprendre.

4. Partout dans le monde, des représentants des différentes communautés religieuses et de tous les hommes et les femmes de bonne volonté s’engagent à travailler pour la paix, convaincus que la manière d’atteindre la paix repose sur l’engagement responsable de chaque personne à promouvoir l’entente entre les peuples, et à assurer un développement durable, harmonieux et équilibré. En effet, la sécurité légitimement attendue par les pays et les individus, n’est pas fondée sur la force des armes mais sur la reconnaissance que la paix est un don de Dieu qui veut que tous Ses enfants, sans distinction, jouissent de la qualité de vie qui leur est due en tant que Ses fils et Ses filles porteurs de Son image. Pour cette raison, avec courage, patience et persévérance, les artisans de paix ne faiblissent pas et reçoivent, dans leurs efforts, la grâce de marcher d’un pas sûr dans ce difficile voyage en perspective.

5. Dans ces dernières années, de multiples appels pour la paix et pour la fin de tous conflits violents ont émané des gouvernements, des Eglises et des communautés religieuses, ainsi que de tous les segments de la société civile. Le monde aspire vraiment à la paix. Le droit des peuples à la paix a aussi été le sujet de résolutions et de proclamations solennelles des Nations Unies. Il reste nécessaire d’agir sérieusement dans le domaine du désarmement nucléaire et conventionnel. Nous n’avons pas de temps à perdre afin de développer une culture de paix. Avec un cœur riche en réflexion et un esprit aimant, nous avançons dans la mise en œuvre du Préambule de la Charte des Nations Unies qui stipule : Préserver les générations futures du fléau de la guerre. L’une des voies maîtresses pour construire la paix est une mondialisation ayant pour objectif les intérêts de la grande famille humaine. C’est pourquoi, il est indispensable d’avoir un sentiment fort de solidarité globale entre les pays riches et les pays pauvres, orienté par un code éthique commun. 

6. Dans son premier message pour la Journée mondiale de la Paix (2014), le Pape François nous rappelle que « non seulement les personnes mais aussi les nations doivent se rencontrer dans un esprit de fraternité ». Il soutient le fait que ceci doit s’exprimer sous un triple aspect : « le devoir de solidarité, qui exige que les nations riches aident celles qui sont moins avancées ; le devoir de justice sociale, qui demande la recomposition en termes plus corrects des relations défectueuses entre peuples forts et peuples faibles ; et le devoir de charité universelle, qui implique la promotion d'un monde plus humain pour tous...dans lequel tous aient quelque chose à donner et à recevoir... »i

7. Constatant que « nombreux sont les conflits qui se poursuivent dans l'indifférence générale », le Pape François adresse « un appel fort à tous ceux qui, par les armes, sèment la violence et la mort : redécouvrez votre frère, et arrêtez votre main! » Il lance un appel à « une conversion des cœurs » qui « ...permette à chacun de reconnaître dans l'autre un frère dont il faut prendre soin, avec lequel il faut travailler pour construire une vie en plénitude pour tous ». Il exprime son souhait sincère « ...que l'engagement quotidien de tous continue à porter du fruit et que l'on puisse parvenir à l'application effective, dans le droit international, du droit à la paix comme droit humain fondamental, condition préalable nécessaire à l'exercice de tous les autres droits ».ii

8. C'est seulement avec « un authentique esprit de fraternité » que nous pouvons vaincre « l'égoïsme individuel qui empêche la possibilité des personnes de vivre entre eux librement et harmonieusement... » Cet égoïsme se développe socialement, soit dans les multiples formes de corruption..., soit dans la formation des organisations criminelles… » qui « offensent gravement Dieu, nuisent aux frères et lèsent la création, et encore plus lorsqu'elles ont une connotation religieuse ».iii Le Pape François identifie le potentiel de la fraternité à « garder et à cultiver [le don commun de] la nature », qui nous aide à reconnaître la « grammaire qui est inscrite » dans la création de Dieu « en utilisant sagement les ressources au bénéfice de tous... »iv

9. En conclusion, tenant en considération notre action dans au sein des Organisations internationales à Genève, nous devons continuer « à tisser une relation fraternelle...toute activité doit être, alors, contresignée d'une attitude de service des personnes, spécialement celles qui sont les plus lointaines et les plus inconnues. Le service est l'âme de cette fraternité qui construit la paix ».v


 i Pape François, Message pour la Journée mondiale de la Paix, 1er janvier 2014, n.4.
ii Id. n.7.
iii Id. n. 8.
iv Id. n. 9.
v Id. n. 10.