I want to stop this suffering: The story of U.F. ECCHR Berlin 2022-12-08 | This is the story of U.F., partially told by himself. It's the story of a Rohingya child's search for safety and of the violence and rightlessness at Europe’s borders. U.F. was repeatedly pushed back and his asylum claim ignored. He faced beatings by Croatian border officers, had his belongings burnt and his shoes confiscated before the expulsions, which included a chain pushback from Slovenia. A pushback is not just a single act, as the animation so clearly illustrates. The simplicity of the term obscures a wide range of human rights violations. To prevent people from accessing state protection, officers resort to violence, torture, and secret detention, whilst denying access to legal procedures. Pushbacks are often executed covertly or without any paperwork. They are devised to uproot people from the protection of the law and leave them in a state of rightlessness. In July, U.F. submitted complaints against Croatia and Slovenia at the UN Child Rights Committee, the first complaints of their kind against these two states. Read more about the cases: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/pushbacks-un-child-rights-croatia-slovenia/The litigation forms part of the Advancing Child Rights Strategic Litigation project which comes under the auspices of the Global Campus of Human Rights – Right Livelihood cooperation: https://rightlivelihood.org/what-we-d...Despite widespread rightlessness and violence against minors at borders, there has been comparatively little research on child pushbacks and few legal complaints. Children and adults alike have routinely been subjected to violent pushbacks from Croatia, where the practice forms part of a systematic state policy. Slovenia’s pushbacks were implemented since 2018 through a readmission agreement authorizing hasty expulsions with complete disregard for a person’s protection needs, a child’s identity, or their best interests.The animation was created by Neda Ahmadi: nedaahmadi.com/workIt was produced by ECCHR and CRIN: home.crin.orgAnd supported by Blindspots e.V.: http://www.blindspots.supportIt forms part of the the Advancing Child Rights Strategic Litigation project: acrisl.org
Ghost-Case in 100 Worten | Ghost Case in 100 words ECCHR Berlin 2025-09-15 | (English below)Ein Scharfschütze aus Deutschland soll als Soldat der israelischen Armee gezielt unbewaffnete palästinensische Zivilisten erschossen haben. Im Gazastreifen wurden ganze Stadtteile zur Kampfzone erklärt – Menschen ohne Waffen und Uniform wurden Opfer.Wir haben Strafanzeige erstattet. Jetzt ist klar: Deutsche Behörden müssen handeln. Wer Zivilisten angreift, darf nicht straflos bleiben – Gaza ist keine Ausnahme. Spende jetzt, damit wir weiter gegen Kriegsverbrechen vorgehen können!Mehr zum Fall: https://www.ecchr.eu/fall/palaestinensische-zivilisten-von-scharfschuetzen-getoetet-strafanzeige-gegen-person-aus-deutschland-eingereicht/ Hier die Links zu den Recherchen: https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/der-sniper-von-gaza-israelischer-soldat-aus-muenchen-soll-unbewaffnete-erschossen-haben-a-bc9d61d8-4169-40cb-8d48-075befce0a06 theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/09/the-gaza-family-torn-apart-by-idf-snipers-from-chicago-and-munich EN: A sniper from Germany is alleged to have deliberately shot unarmed Palestinian civilians while serving as a soldier in the Israeli army. Entire neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip were declared combat zones—people without weapons or uniforms became victims.We have filed a criminal complaint. German authorities must take action. Those who attack civilians must not go unpunished—Gaza is no exception. Donate now so that we can continue to take action against war crimes!Find out more about the case: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/palestinian-civilians-killed-by-snipers-complaint-filed-against-individual-originating-from-germany/
5 gute Gründe, ECCHR-Fördermitglied zu werden ECCHR Berlin 2025-05-05 | Diesen herausfordernden Zeiten führen uns eins vor Augen: Gerechtigkeit kommt nicht von allein. Sie muss erkämpft und verteidigt werden. Allerdings schaffen wir das nicht alleine – wir brauchen euch! Deshalb, seid dabei und werdet ECCHR-Fördermitglied 👉 ecchr.eu/foerdermitgliedschaft
Brice O. files a complaint against Spain in front of the UN Committee against Torture. ECCHR Berlin 2025-02-10 | Brice O. (anonymized for his protection) filed a complaint to the UN Committee Against Torture challenging Spain’s failure to investigate its use of anti-riot material during the deadly border operation at El Tarajal, Ceuta on 6 February 2014, which caused him permanent loss of sight in one eye. With the support of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Irídia – Center for the Defence of Human Rights, he seeks to hold Spain accountable for its failure to prevent, investigate or redress the harm caused by Guardia Civil officers. At least 14 dead and countless injured and disappeared: this was the outcome of the brutal pushback operation on 6 February 2014 by the Spanish Guardia Civil - a paramilitary police force - at the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the beach of El Tarajal.
ECCHR - Mit Recht. Gegen Unrecht. ECCHR Berlin 2025-01-14 | Seit mehr als 15 Jahren kämpft das ECCHR mit juristischen Mitteln gegen Menschenrechtsverletzungen. In Zusammenarbeit mit Betroffenen und Partner*innen aus der ganzen Welt werden Regierungen, staatliche Akteur*innen und Unternehmen in Verantwortung gezogen und Verbrechen in Bezug auf Folter, Krieg, sexualisierte Gewalt, wirtschaftliche und ökologische Ausbeutung und abgeschottete Grenzen sichtbar gemacht. Mehr über unsere Arbeit: https://www.ecchr.euJetzt spenden: https://www.ecchr.eu/jetzt-online-spenden/ECCHR auf Social Media:twitter/X: twitter.com/ecchrberlinfacebook: facebook.com/ecchr.euInstagram: instagram.com/ecchr.euLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/europeancenterforconstitutional&humanrights
ECCHR - Enforcing Human Rights Through Legal Means ECCHR Berlin 2025-01-14 | For more than 15 years the ECCHR has been fighting against human rights violations. Working together with those affected and partners from across the globe, our aim is to hold governments, state actors and companies accountable and draw attention to crimes such as torture, sexual and gender-based violence, economic and ecological exploitation and war crimes. More about our work: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/Donate now: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/donate-online/ECCHR on social media:twitter/X: twitter.com/ecchrberlinfacebook: facebook.com/ecchr.euInstagram: instagram.com/ecchr.euLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/europeancenterforconstitutional&humanrights
From Tripoli to Berlin - Evacuation, not Externalisation! ECCHR Berlin 2024-11-06 | Illegal push- and pull backs, arbitrary detention, enslavement, sexual violence, and deaths at sea and on land: these are just some of the serious crimes and human rights violations people on the move face in Libya, Tunisia and the Mediterranean.On 18 October 2024, ECCHR co-hosted the event "From Tripoli to Berlin - Evacuation, not Externalisation! The Right to Move against an EU for the Few" that brought together human rights defenders from Libya, the civil fleet, human rights lawyers and political actors. Our goal is to build strong solidarity structures and campaigns to support the rights of people on the move through North Africa and the Mediterranean.„What migrants and refugees experience in Libya has to be recognized as crimes against humanity. When exploring responsibilities for these crimes, we identified a common plan between Libyan and European actors to keep migrants and refugees out of Europe. That means, EU actors are actually co-perpetrators“ (Allison West – Legal Advisor ECCHR)Panel discussion with:David Yambio: Co-founder and President of Refugess in Libya Mirka Schäfer: Head of Advocacy and Mobilization, SOS HumanityAllison West: Senior Legal Advisor ECCHRJulian Pahlke: Member of German Parliament for Bündnis 90/Die GrünenModeration:Naeima Yaqoub: Co-founder and Vice President, Refugess in Libya andDorina Achelaritei: Journalist and Activist with Mediterranea BerlinMore about Refugess in Libya: refugeesinlibya.orgMore about ECCHRs work on Libya: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/migrants-and-refugees-in-libya-face-crimes-against-humanity-the-icc-must-investigate/ and here https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/interceptions-of-migrants-and-refugees-at-sea/© Sophia Igel00:00 Foreword04:20 Introduction panelists11:37 The situation in Libya21:45 Voices from Libya33:30 The legal challenges44:20 Sea rescue in the Mediterranean Sea49:38 EU externalization politics01:02:25 Institutionalized complicity01:26:10 Questions
Voices for Afrin: The overlooked atrocities in Syria ECCHR Berlin 2024-04-08 | English Description: (deutsch weiter unten)On March 6, ECCHR and Maxim Gorki Theater brought together a group of experts, including Sabiha Khalil, Patrick Kroker, Erkan Pehlivan and Kristin Helberg, to discuss the political situation in Afrin in northern Syria and the ongoing struggle for justice of those affected. The event was accompanied by music from Wassim Mukdad and Neroda Mohamad.With Sabiha Khalil (Syrian-Kurdish feminist activist), Patrick Kroker (lawyer, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights) and Erkan Pehlivan (journalist). Moderated by Kristin Helberg (journalist)Music Wassim Mukdad (musician, composer) and Neroda Mohamad (musician).More on ECCHR's work on the crimes in Afrin: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/crimes-in-syria-the-neglected-atrocities-of-afrin/The dossier “Justice for Afrin” in the Living Open Archive: https://loa.ecchr.eu/dossiers/justice-for-afrin/0:00 Music by Wassim Mukdad and Neroda Mohamad5:38 Introduction Joumana Seif16:12 Video Justice for Afrin21:46 Panel discussion1:38:07 Music by Wassim Mukdad and Neroda MohamadDeutsche Beschreibung:Am 6. März brachten das ECCHR und das Maxim Gorki Theater eine Gruppe von Expert*innen zusammen, darunter Sabiha Khalil, Patrick Kroker, Erkan Pehlivan und Kristin Helberg, um über die politische Situation im nordsyrischen Afrin und den anhaltenden Kampf der Betroffenen um Gerechtigkeit zu diskutieren. Die Veranstaltung wurde außerdem von Wassim Mukdad und Neroda Mohamad musikalisch begleitet. Mit Sabiha Khalil (Syrisch-Kurdische feministische Aktivistin), Patrick Kroker (Rechtsanwalt, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights) und Erkan Pehlivan (Journalist). Moderation Kristin Helberg (Journalistin) Musik Wassim Mukdad (Musiker, Komponist) und Neroda Mohamad (Musiker). Mehr zur Arbeit des ECCHR zu den Verbrechen in Afrin: https://www.ecchr.eu/fall/tatort-syrien-verbrechen-an-der-zivilbevoelkerung-in-afrin/ Das Dossier "Gerechtigkeit für Afrin" im Living Open Archive: https://loa.ecchr.eu/de/dossiers/gerechtigkeit-fuer-afrin/
Sani Ladan, Asociación Elin (Ceuta) migration specialist, on the deadly El Tarajal pushback ECCHR Berlin 2024-02-07 | "The impunity in the Tarajal case has given the Spanish state to understand that they can violate bodies at borders without anything happening,” says Sani Ladan from Asociación Elín, Ceuta who has been campaigning for justice for many years. instagram.com/asociacionelinSani says his relationship with the Tarajal case is a direct relationship as a migrant, and as a politicised subject, but it is also a relationship of resistance and dignity. 10 years since the deadly pushback on 6 February 2014, social movements joined in Ceuta to call for truth, justice and reparations and to keep the memory of the victims of El Tarajal alive.
Ludovic N. statement (in French with Spanish subtitles) on case at UN Committee Against Torture ECCHR Berlin 2024-02-07 | Ludovic N. speaks about his experiences at El Tarajal, 10 years after the deadly pushback from Ceuta on 6 February 2014. He recently submitted a complaint to the UN against Spain for multiple violations of the Convention Against Torture, with the support of his representing lawyer, Carsten Gericke as well as ECCHR's border justice team.Ludovic N. was 15 years old when he was beaten, and tear gassed by Guardia Civil officers as he struggled to hold onto the sea wall border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The unaccompanied minor from Cameroon was apprehended and expelled to Morocco by land and was later obstructed from testifying during the 8 years of investigations into the deadly events. Ludovic N.’s complaint to the UN Committee Against Torture addresses a litany of investigative failures after Spain finally archived the case in 2022. Read more about the case: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/europes-treacherous-borders-seeking-justice-for-ceuta-victims/theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/01/refugee-files-complaint-un-spain-2014-border-deaths-spanish-enclave-ceuta
Hanaa Hakiki, ECCHRs senior legal advisor on 10 years since El Tarajal deadly pushback ECCHR Berlin 2024-02-06 | 10 years since the deadly pushback at El Tarajal, Ceuta on 6 February 2014, Ludovic N. (anonymized for his protection), a survivor, submitted a complaint to the UN against Spain for multiple violations of the Convention Against Torture, with the support of his representing lawyer, Carsten Gericke and ECCHR's senior legal advisor, Hanaa Hakiki, along with the border justice team.Ludovic N. was 15 years old when he was beaten, and tear gassed by Guardia Civil officers as he struggled to hold onto the sea wall border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The unaccompanied minor from Cameroon was apprehended and expelled to Morocco by land and was later obstructed from testifying during the 8 years of investigations into the deadly events. Ludovic N.’s complaint to the UN Committee Against Torture addresses a litany of investigative failures after Spain finally archived the case in 2022. Read more about the case: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/europes-treacherous-borders-seeking-justice-for-ceuta-victims/theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/01/refugee-files-complaint-un-spain-2014-border-deaths-spanish-enclave-ceuta
Rueda de Prensa ECCHR Berlin 2024-02-06 | Supervivientes y familias excluidas de la investigación, víctimas no identificadas, legitimación del uso de material antidisturbios contra personas en peligro en el mar, denegación arbitraria de las mínimas diligencias encaminadas a esclarecer lo ocurrido y depurar las responsabilidades oportunas: 10 años después de los hechos, las víctimas de El Tarajal siguen sin obtener justicia. Ludovic N. tenía 15 años cuando fue víctima de la brutal intervención de la Guardia Civil el 6 de febrero de 2014 en la playa de El Tarajal de Ceuta, al igual que cientos de sus compañeros de viaje. Al menos 15 de ellos murieron aquel día. Desde Alemania, donde reside, lucha desde 2015 para que su caso no caiga en el olvido. Ante el fracaso de la investigación llevada a cabo por los tribunales españoles, ahora exige justicia ante el Comité de la ONU contra la Tortura, desafiando así las políticas fronterizas asesinas de Europa, la impunidad de la Guardia Civil en la frontera sur española y el desprecio absoluto por las vidas de las personas negras. Para ello, cuenta con el apoyo del European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) y el abogado Carsten Gericke, quién le representa en esta queja.Con:- Ludovic N., superviviente de El Tarajal y demandante (declaración grabada)- Carsten Gericke, abogado de Ludovic N.- Hanaa Hakiki, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Berlín- Sani Ladan, Asociación Elín, Ceuta- Elena Muñoz, Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado (CEAR)y Pedro Sanz, abogado.Para más información sobre el caso: https://www.ecchr.eu/es/caso/cuando-habra-justicia-para-las-victimas-de-el-tarajal/eldiario.es/desalambre/superviviente-muertes-tarajal-denuncia-espana-onu-decada-no-hay-responsables_1_10880667.html
Guests on BBC Worldservice radio, Sami Barkal & Hanaa Hakiki ECCHR Berlin 2024-01-31 | "The things I saw at the border, I could never have imagined," Sami Barkal, a Syrian now living in Germany, tells the BBC's Julian Worricker. Barkal explains what compelled him to film and publish the first footage at the Croatian border. Now with a case in front of the European Court of Human Rights, he also shares his experiences of the time he was pushed back to Bosnia by Croatia border officers whilst he was still a minor and explains why the case is so important to him.Hanaa Hakiki, senior legal advisor at ECCHR is one of the lawyers in the Border Justice team supporting Sami Barkal. She explains how common Barkal's experiences are, yet how exceptional his case and how the Court should handle his case. She also takes the opportunity to debunk some common myths about migration.Read more about the case: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/croatia-to-answer-to-european-court-of-human-rights/ Read more about pushbacks and related cases: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/topic/push-backs/This audio recording was part of the BBC World Service News programme from 31 December, 2023: bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172z37mvgm0hv1
Gerechtigkeit für Afrin: Die unbeachteten Verbrechen in Syrien ECCHR Berlin 2024-01-25 | Im Januar 2018 drangen die türkische Armee und verbündete bewaffnete Milizen in die nordsyrische Region Afrin ein. Seitdem ist die mehrheitlich kurdische Bevölkerung systematischen Gräueltaten ausgesetzt, die von Vertreibung, sexualisierter Gewalt, Folter und systematischen Plünderungen bis hin zu Tötungen reichen. Die Menschenrechtsorganisationen ECCHR und STJ haben bei der Bundesanwaltschaft Anzeige erstattet und Ermittlungen wegen Kriegsverbrechen und Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit gefordert.Mehr über den Fall: https://www.ecchr.eu/fall/tatort-syrien-verbrechen-an-der-zivilbevoelkerung-in-afrin/Zum Dossier "Gerechtigkeit für Afrin": https://loa.ecchr.eu/de/dossiers/gerechtigkeit-fuer-afrin/Produziert von: Limo for Research, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and Syrians for Truth and Justice In Kooperation mit der Sebastian Cobler Stiftung und Rosa- Luxemburg-Stiftung Voiceover: Huwa Okoyomoh (English), Inaam Wali (Arabic), Sylvana Seddig (German) Übersetzung: Nicola AbbasMotion design & Schnitt: Limo for Research Sounddesign: Niklas Kammertöns Stimmaufnahmen: Sebastian Morawietz Film- and Fotomaterial: Syrians for Truth and Justice, Thomas Schmidinger, Roj MousaZusätzliches Bildmaterial: Anadolu Images, voanews.com
العدالة لعفرين: الجرائم المُتغاضى عنها في سوريا ECCHR Berlin 2024-01-25 | In January 2018, the Turkish army and allied armed militias invaded the northern Syrian region of Afrin. Since then, the Kurdish population has been subjected to systematic atrocities, from displacement, sexual violence, torture and systematic looting to killings. Human rights organizations ECCHR and STJ have filed a complaint with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office calling for an investigation into the perpetrators. More on the case: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/tatort-s...Produced by: Limo for Research, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and Syrians for Truth and Justice In cooperation with Sebastian Cobler Stiftung and Rosa- Luxemburg-Stiftung Voiceover: Huwa Okoyomoh (English), Inaam Wali (Arabic), Sylvana Seddig (German) Translation: Nicola AbbasMotion design & Editing: Limo for Research Sounddesign: Niklas Kammertöns Voice Recordings: Sebastian Morawietz Film and Photo Materials: Syrians for Truth and Justice, Thomas Schmidinger, Roj MousaAdditional Pictures: Anadolu Images, voanews.com
Justice for Afrin: Syrias’s unseen crimes ECCHR Berlin 2024-01-19 | In January 2018, the Turkish army and allied armed militias invaded the northern Syrian region of Afrin. Since then, the Kurdish population has been subjected to systematic atrocities, from displacement, sexual violence, torture and systematic looting to killings. Human rights organizations ECCHR and STJ have filed a complaint with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office calling for an investigation into the perpetrators. More on the case: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/tatort-syrien-verbrechen-an-der-zivilbevoelkerung-in-afrin/Produced by: Limo for Research, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and Syrians for Truth and Justice In cooperation with Sebastian Cobler Stiftung and Rosa- Luxemburg-Stiftung Voiceover: Huwa Okoyomoh (English), Inaam Wali (Arabic), Sylvana Seddig (German) Motion design & Editing: Limo for Research Sounddesign: Niklas Kammertöns Voice Recordings: Sebastian Morawietz Film and Photo Materials: Syrians for Truth and Justice, Thomas Schmidinger Additional Pictures: Anadolu Images, voanews.com
Pressekonferenz: Der Fall des Deutsch-Iraners Jamshid Sharmahd ECCHR Berlin 2023-06-21 | Aufzeichnung vom Mittwoch 21. Juni 2023, um 10 Uhr im ECCHRZossener Str. 55-58, 10961 Berlin (hybrid)Der Fall des Deutsch-Iraners Jamshid Sharmahd: Mit dem deutschen Strafrecht gegen die drohende Hinrichtung und Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit.Gazelle Sharmahd kämpft um das Leben ihres Vaters Jamshid Sharmahd. Dem in Teheran geborenen deutschen Staatsbürger Sharmahd droht im Iran die Hinrichtung. Gemeinsam mit dem European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) nutzt seine Tochter die Mittel und Wege, die das deutsche und das internationale Strafrecht bieten, um den Verbrechen des iranischen Regimes entgegenzuwirken. Unterstützt werden die rechtlichen Schritte in Deutschland von Aktivist*innen für Freiheits-, Frauen- und Menschenrechte im Iran.Was können Politik und Justiz in Deutschland tun, um die Hinrichtung von Jamshid Sharmahd und anderer zum Tode verurteilten Iraner*innen zu stoppen? Welche rechtlichen Mittel und Wege eignen sich, um die Verantwortlichen für Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit im Iran zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen? Wie kann die iranische Zivilgesellschaft unterstützt werden?Diese Fragen sowie entsprechende rechtliche Interventionen werden auf der Pressekonferenz erläutert. Teilnehmer*innenGazelle Sharmahd, Tochter von Jamshid SharmahdGilda Sahebi, deutsch-iranische Journalistin, Ärztin und AktivistinWolfgang Kaleck, Generalsekretär des ECCHR Patrick Kroker, Senior Legal Advisor, ECCHR
Coming soon: Our new annual report ECCHR Berlin 2023-04-26 | In no more than a few days we will release the report and let you be part of what we accomplished in 2022. Stay tuned! #shorts
Trailer - Die Geschichte von U.F. ECCHR Berlin 2023-03-24 | Dies ist die Geschichte von U.F.Es ist die Suche eines Rohingya-Kindes nach Sicherheit und die Geschichte der Gewalt und Rechtlosigkeit an Europas Grenzen.U.F. war 8 Jahre alt, als er nach einem militärischen Angriff auf sein Dorf aus Myanmar fliehen musste und von seiner Familie getrennt wurde. Auf der langjährigen Suche nach einem sicheren Zufluchtsort verbrachte er mehr als ein Jahr in Bosnien-Herzegowina, wo er obdachlos war und ohne staatliche Unterstützung oder medizinische Versorgung überleben musste. Während dieser Zeit wurde er insgesamt fünfmal von Kroatien zurückgeschoben und war dabei ständiger Gewalt ausgesetzt. In Slowenien wurde er bei einer Kettenrückschiebung erst nach Kroatien und dann nach Bosnien-Herzegowina gebracht.Sie finden die volle Version hier: youtube.com/watch?v=HJlmNZdblScMit Unterstützung des ECCHR und Blindspots reichte U.F. im Juli 2022 beim UN-Ausschuss für die Rechte des Kindes Beschwerden gegen Kroatien und Slowenien ein. Es sind die ersten Beschwerden dieser Art gegen die beiden Staaten:https://www.ecchr.eu/fall/pushbacks-un-kinderrechtsausschuss-kroatien-slowenien/?mdrv=www.ecchr.eu&cHash=d2725cb0e337f824759d1aad22ab714eAnimation: Neda Ahmadi nedaahmadi.com/workSound Design: http://torchandcompass.comEine Production von ECCHR and CRIN: home.crin.orgUnterstützt von Blindspots e.V.: http://www.blindspots.supportDie Beschwerden sind Teil einer Reihe von rechtlichen Initiativen des ECCHR gegen systematische Menschenrechtsverletzungen an den EU-Außengrenzen und wurde im Rahmen des Projekts Advancing Child Rights Strategic Litigation (ACRiSL) und mit Unterstützung des Global Campus of Human Rights und der Right Livelihood cooperation realisiert.
At the European Parliament, Sami Barkal & Carsten Gericke on the rights of children on the move. ECCHR Berlin 2023-03-22 | On 1 March 2023 Sami Barkal (applicant in S.B. and Others v. Croatia before the European Court of Human Rights) and Carsten Gericke (ECCHR's partner lawyer) addressed the LIBE committee at the European Parliament to talk about the rights of children on the move at borders. "Yes, there are borders. But why the torture?" Sami asked the Parliament after he described the story of his pushback from Croatia to Bosnia whilst still a minor. He is now waiting for a decision in a complaint he submitted to the European Court of Human Rights. https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/croatia-to-answer-to-european-court-of-human-rights/ Lawyer, Carsten Gericke, additionally set out how pushbacks such as the one experienced by Sami violate the European Convention of Human Rights as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as confirmed in recent jurisprudence. https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/un-committee-condemns-spains-push-back-policy/ Gericke underlined that the key issue is one of implementation: "There are clear legal boundaries and protection standards (regarding the treatment of minors) for all member States and the EU." "The core problem is the systemic denial of Member States to individually register all refugees and migrants apprehended on their territory. This is consequently linked with the lack of any proper age assessment to identify the children among them," said Gericke. The other speakers at the hearing were: Sajid Khan Nasiri, filmmaker Parwana Amiri, human rights defender and poet Esther Pozo Vera, EU commission Marc Dullaert, Kidsrights Federica Toscano, Save The Children To watch the full recording: https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/webstreaming/committee-on-civil-liberties-justice-and-home-affairs_20230301-1430-COMMITTEE-LIBE ECCHR is a non-profit organization. One hundred percent of our budget comes from donations and grants. Help put an end to impunity for human rights violations! https://www.ecchr.eu/en/donate-online/
ECCHR Слідчий департамент: Розслідування агресивної війни Росії проти України – Панельне обговорення ECCHR Berlin 2023-02-27 | Вторгнення Росії в Україну у лютому 2022 року призвело до появи безпрецедентної кількості ініціатив, спрямованих на забезпечення притягнення до відповідальності за злочини, скоєні під час цієї триваючої агресивної війни. Як державні установи, так і громадянське суспільство у всьому світі вживають заходів задля проведення розслідування і дослідження звірських злочинів в Україні.Щоб дізнатися більше про те, як правозахисні організації реалізують заходи боротьби за правосуддя, разом із нашими гостями ми дослідили існуючі зусилля, спрямовані на реагування на ці злочини, та обговорили виклики і труднощі у порівнянні з міжнародними злочинами, скоєними в інших місцях. У цьому контексті ми, зокрема, зосереджували особливу увагу на тому, як поєднувати взаємодоповнюючі аспекти розслідувань на основі даних із відкритих джерел та стратегічної підготовки справ, щоб посилити вплив співпраці громадянського суспільства та їхніх ініціатив. Speakers are:- Maksym Rokmaniko, Director of the Center for Spatial Technologies in Kyiv- Nadia Volkova, Director of the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group- Roksolana Burianenko, Project Manager of the Ukrainian Archive- Hannah Bagdasar, Lead Investigator with Bellingcat’s Global Authentication Project- Arne Bardelle, legal advisor at ECCHR- Anne Schroeter, ECCHR’s coordinator of the Investigative Commons as moderatorЧасові мітки00:00 Початок01:55 Вступ03:35 Представлення панелістів06:33 Представлення організацій 26:20 Цифрові докази в Україні 48:05 Підзвітність та співпраця 1:03:40 Сесія запитань і відповідей1:30:39 Закриття зустрічіECCHR – це неприбуткова організація. Сто відсотків нашого бюджету походить із пожертвувань та грантів. Допоможіть нам покласти край безкарності у випадку порушень прав людини!https://www.ecchr.eu/en/donate-online/Find out more in our web dossier, in which we explore avenues toward accountability at the national and international level for crimes arising from the conflict, as well as outline our approaches for strengthening international criminal law: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/pathways-to-justice-for-ukraine/
ECCHR | Investigative Commons: Investigating Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine Paneltalk ECCHR Berlin 2023-02-16 | Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has led to an unprecedented array of accountability initiatives for the crimes committed in this ongoing war of aggression. Both state institutions and civil society across the world have taken action to investigate and examine atrocities in Ukraine.To learn more about how human rights organizations have approached the fight for justice, together with our guests, we explored existing efforts in addressing these crimes and discuss the challenges and differences compared to international crimes committed elsewhere. In this context, we particularly focused our discussion on how to combine the complementary aspects of open source investigation and strategic case building to increase the impact of civil society collaborations and interventions.Find out more in our web dossier, in which we explore avenues toward accountability at the national and international level for crimes arising from the conflict, as well as outline our approaches for strengthening international criminal law: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/pathways-to-justice-for-ukraine/ Speakers are:- Maksym Rokmaniko, Director of the Center for Spatial Technologies in Kyiv- Nadia Volkova, Director of the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group- Roksolana Burianenko, Project Manager of the Ukrainian Archive- Hannah Bagdasar, Lead Investigator with Bellingcat’s Global Authentication Project- Arne Bardelle, legal advisor at ECCHR- Anne Schroeter, ECCHR’s coordinator of the Investigative Commons as moderatorTimestamps00:00 Start01:55 Introduction03:35 Introduction of Panellists06:33 Introduction of Organizations26:20 Digital evidence in Ukraine48:05 Accountability and Collaboration1:03:40 Q&A 1:30:39 ClosingECCHR is a non-profit organization. One hundred percent of our budget comes from donations and grants. Help put an end to impunity for human rights violations!https://www.ecchr.eu/en/donate-online/
Online panel: The Dam Collapse in Brumadinho - Four Years of Impunity ECCHR Berlin 2023-01-26 | Four Years of Impunity After Dam Collapse in Brumadinho - Everyday Life in Brumadinho and Justice Proceedings in Brazil and GermanyThe Brumadinho dam collapse represents a systematic failure in the coordination between the mine operator chain, state supervision and privatized control by certifying companies to guarantee safety and environmental standards. The case highlights the need for legislators to oblige companies to identify and address such risks. On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the dam collapse in Brumadinho, we commemorated all those who have been affected by this tragedy. At a time when there are negotiations at both the European and international levels to oblige companies to respect human rights and the environment – as well as to increase access to justice for victims of corporate abuses – this tragic event serves as a warning about the damage that can be caused by a system that puts corporate profits above people and planet. Furthermore, it demonstrates the need to integrate the demands and concerns of communities negatively affected by corporate activities into the existing legislative process to enact a European due diligence law.We discussed, if this crime could have been prevented if a German or EU supply chain law had been in place earlier? What can be done to ensure that such a new EU law contains no loopholes and does everything possible to prevent such crimes from happening?Keynote:Marek Misak, Policy Advisor EU External Affairs, Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE)Moderation: Madalena Ramos Görne (MISEREOR)Speakers:Bishop Vicente Ferreira, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte and member of the Commission for Integral Ecology of the CNBBAndresa Rodrigues, mother of victim Bruno and Vice-President of the Association of Families of Victims and People Affected by the Córrego do Feijão Mine Dam Crash in Brumadinho (AVABRUM)Danilo Chammas, human rights lawyer and coordinator of the Observatory of Criminal Proceedings on the Tragedy in Brumadinho (RENSER)Antonia Klein, lawyer and Senior Legal Advisor, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)Ben Vanpeperstraete, Senior Legal Advisor, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
Pushbacks in Melilla: Netflix documentary, “The Gourougou Trial” ECCHR Berlin 2022-11-25 | N.D. from Mali and N.T. from Ivory Coast were supported by ECCHR to demand their right to have rights after a violent pushback from Spain to Morocco. This documentary tells their story and follows their legal struggle right up to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights. You can watch the full film here: netflix.com/title/81506554Learn more about the case: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/nd-and-nt-v-spain/“A case that puts Europe’s core values and the future of rights throughout the continent to the test.” – Simon Casal (film director).Late one night a group left behind their makeshift camp on Mount Gourougou in Morocco and headed towards the border fence structure in Melilla to enter Spain. It was August 13, 2014 and among the group were N.D. from Mali and N.T. from the Ivory Coast. As soon as they climbed up onto the border fences, they were stopped by the Spanish Guardia Civil and violently pushed back to Morocco – without access to any legal procedures or protection.“I cannot accept that humans can treat humans like that. What I would like to see from this Court is that justice exists – even for those who are poor, vulnerable and do not have a voice.” – N.D.The film, “The Gourougou Trial”, is a compelling and disturbing portrayal of N.D and N.T.‘s story as they challenge their pushback in front of the European Court of Human Rights, with the support of ECCHR. The film follows the twists and turns of this legal struggle, documenting the proceedings in the Strasbourg courtroom and deconstructing the much-criticised judgment. After a first positive decision in 2017, the Court’s Grand Chamber then found Spain’s pushback practice had not violated the human rights of N.D. and N.T. in a final judgment in February 2020 which dismissed their complaint.A film by Mikel Konaté, Maribel Izcue, Simón Casal, Santi Palacios.Directed by Simón Casal, Santi PalaciosA production by Orillamar FilmesSupported by Bertha Foundation
Child pushbacks: Panel discussion on child rights at the border in Croatia and Slovenia ECCHR Berlin 2022-11-24 | On 21 November 2022, ECCHR hosted a panel discussion on rights violations against minors on the Balkan route with the support of the Advancing Child Rights Strategic Litigation project (ACRiSL). This panel engaged with policymakers and key actors to address the current situation for children on the move along the Balkan route and the state of child rights at the border. Speakers: Gordan Bosanac, Secretary to the Green-Left bloc, Croatian Parliament Miha Nabergoj, Advisor to the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of SloveniaTatjana Ristic, Advocacy specialist, Balkans Migration & Displacement Hub, Save The ChildrenAoife Nolan, Co-director of the Human Rights Law Centre, University of Nottingham / Lead, ‘Advancing Child Rights Strategic Litigation Project’.Moderation: Delphine Rodrik, legal advisor at ECCHRContext:On the occasion of World Children’s Day 2022, we heard the story of a Rohingya child's search for safety and of the violence and rightlessness at Europe’s borders. U.F. was repeatedly pushed back and his asylum claim ignored. He faced beatings by Croatian border officers, had his belongings burnt and his shoes confiscated before the expulsions, which included a chain pushback from Slovenia. In July, he submitted complaints against Croatia and Slovenia at the UN Child Rights Committee, the first complaints of their kind against these two states. Read here more about the case: https://www.ecchr.eu/fall/pushbacks-un-kinderrechtsausschuss-kroatien-slowenien/ The litigation forms part of the Advancing Child Rights Strategic Litigation project: acrisl.orgACRiSL comes under the auspices of the Global Campus of Human Rights – Right Livelihood cooperation: rightlivelihood.org/what-we-do/education/partnerships-for-education/global-campus-of-human-rightsDespite widespread rightlessness and violence against minors at borders, there has been comparatively little research on child pushbacks and few legal complaints. Children and adults alike have routinely been subjected to violent pushbacks from Croatia, where the practice forms part of a systematic state policy. Slovenia’s pushbacks were implemented since 2018 through a readmission agreement authorizing hasty expulsions with complete disregard for a person’s protection needs, a child’s identity, or their best interests.00:00 Introduction02:40 Case of U.F at UN Child Rights Committe06:50 Aoife Nolan, ACRiSL12:47 Tatjana Ristic, Save The Children21:40 Gordan Bosanac, Green-Left Croatian parliamentary bloc28:25 Miha Nabergoj, Human Rights Ombudsman, Slovenia.37:05 Are there Risks of focussing especially on the rights of vulnerable migrants?39:02 Involvement of Frontex and the European Commission’s proposal to extend its mandate to the Balkan region.45:04 Whether the Schengen accession of Croatia comes with the introduction of an effective monitoring mechanism and would it take into account the specific situation of children?48:11 Why the U.F. complaint was litigated before the UN committee on the rights of the child, rather than the European Court of Human Rights. Are there advantages to litigating it there?53:04 Are the returns under the Croatian/Slovenian readmission agreement operating differently with more access to procedural protections - and is the identification of minors happening as it should? 57:53 What is the impact of existing litigation on pushbacks in Croatia? And what other pressure points or strategies exist?
Kampf gegen den Untergang: Eine Insel fordert Gerechtigkeit ECCHR Berlin 2022-07-12 | Der höchste Punkt der indonesischen Insel Pari liegt 1,5 Meter über dem Meeresspiegel – noch. Der Klimawandel lässt das Wasser seit Jahren stetig steigen, spätestens 2050 wird der Großteil der Insel überflutet sein. Und damit die Existenzgrundlage ihrer Bewohner*innen, die schon jetzt mit Hochwassern zu kämpfen haben, die immer häufiger und immer heftiger auftreten. Doch die Menschen auf Pari wollen den Untergang ihrer Heimat nicht einfach so hinnehmen: Sie klagen in der Schweiz gegen einen der größten Verursacher von klimaschädlichen Treibhausgasen, den Zementkonzern Holcim. Vier Betroffene wandten sich im Juli 2022 an die Schweizer Justiz, unterstützt vom ECCHR, der Schweizer Organisation HEKS/EPER und der indonesischen Umweltorganisation WALHI. Sie fordern: Holcim soll seinen CO2-Ausstoß so schnell wie möglich deutlich senken. Besonders an ihrem Gesuch ist zudem, dass sie die Firma anhalten, Entschädigung für bereits entstandene Schäden zu leisten und dringend notwendige Hochwasserschutzmaßnahmen zu finanzieren. Mehr unter: www.ecchr.eu
The struggle against rising tides: An island seeks justice ECCHR Berlin 2022-07-12 | The highest point of the Indonesian island of Pari is 1.5 meters above sea level – for now. Climate change has been causing the water to rise steadily for years, and by 2050 at the latest, most of the island will be flooded. And with it the livelihood of its inhabitants, who are already struggling with floods that are occurring more frequently and more violently. But the people on Pari do not want to simply accept the demise of their homeland: They are taking legal action in Switzerland against one of the biggest polluters of climate-damaging greenhouse gases, the cement company Holcim. Four affected people turned to the Swiss judiciary in July 2022, supported by ECCHR, the Swiss organization HEKS/EPER and the Indonesian environmental organization WALHI. They demand: Holcim should significantly reduce its CO2 emissions as soon as possible. What is special about their claim is that they are urging the company to pay compensation for damages already caused and to finance urgently needed flood protection measures. More at www.ecchr.eu
AA and Others: Reactions to Idomeni judgment ECCHR Berlin 2022-05-11 | Europe abruptly sealed off its borders along the so-called Balkan route in 2016, shutting down legal pathways facilitated during the 2015 “summer of migration.” The consequences were foreseeable: thousands locked in squalor along the border and the brutal enforcement of the closures.A group of Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis now expect answers from the European Court of Human Rights. In 2016, they submitted a case to the court regarding their illegal collective expulsion from North Macedonia into Greece. Now, the judgment by the ECHR has been published, determining the mass pushback as lawful. Hear Nour + Dayana, two of the eight applicants, react to the judges decision.For more information, go to: www.ecchr.eu/en/case/from-idomeni-to-strasbourg-refugees-demand-their-right-to-have-rights-at-the-ecthr/
AA and Others: Analysis of Idomeni judgment ECCHR Berlin 2022-04-12 | Europe abruptly sealed off its borders along the so-called Balkan route in 2016, shutting down legal pathways facilitated during the 2015 “summer of migration.” The consequences were foreseeable: thousands locked in squalor along the border and the brutal enforcement of the closures.A group of Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis now expect answers from the European Court of Human Rights. In 2016, they submitted a case to the court regarding their illegal collective expulsion from North Macedonia into Greece. Now, the judgment by the ECHR has been published, determining the mass pushback as lawful. Hear Nour + Dayana, two of the eight applicants, react to the judges decision.For more information, go to: www.ecchr.eu/en/case/from-idomeni-to-strasbourg-refugees-demand-their-right-to-have-rights-at-the-ecthr/
Discussion: The shutdown of legal routes for refugees & the 2016 “March of Hope” ECCHR Berlin 2022-04-06 | Europe abruptly sealed off its borders along the so-called Balkan route in 2016, shutting down legal pathways facilitated during the 2015 “summer of migration.” The consequences were foreseeable: thousands locked in squalor along the border and the brutal enforcement of the closures.A group of Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis expected answers from the European Court of Human Rights. In 2016, they submitted a case to the court regarding their illegal collective expulsion from North Macedonia into Greece. On 5 April 2022, the European Court of Human Rights found that their mass pushback did not violate their rights.No longer able to cross the border regularly, the applicants joined over 1.500 refugees on the “March of Hope” and walked peacefully from Greece to North Macedonia on 14 March 2016. After crossing the border, they were stopped by police who did not let them apply for asylum, but forced them back through a hole in the border without a chance to challenge their expulsion. They were supported in their case by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and PRO ASYL.The panel discussion the court’s judgment is moderated by Alexandra Bogos from the Border Violence Monitoring Network.Speakers:Hanaa Hakiki, senior legal advisor, ECCHRZoran Drangovski, program coordinator, Macedonian Young Lawyers AssociationMarta Górczyńska, human rights lawyer, Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human RightsFor more information go to: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/from-idomeni-to-strasbourg-refugees-demand-their-right-to-have-rights-at-the-ecthr/
AA and Others, Idomeni judgment – Meet Nour ECCHR Berlin 2022-04-04 | Europe abruptly sealed off its borders along the so-called Balkan route in 2016, shutting down legal pathways facilitated during the 2015 “summer of migration.” The consequences were foreseeable: thousands locked in squalor along the border and the brutal enforcement of the closures.A group of Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis now expect answers from the European Court of Human Rights. In 2016, they submitted a case to the court regarding their illegal collective expulsion from North Macedonia into Greece. The judgment will be published on Tuesday, 5 April 2022.This is Nour, one of the eight applicants. No longer able to cross the border regularly, she joined over 1.500 refugees on the “March of Hope” and walked peacefully from Greece to North Macedonia on 14 March 2016.After crossing the border, the group were stopped by police who did not let them apply for asylum, but forced them back through a hole in the border without a chance to challenge their expulsion. They are supported in their case by ECCHR and PRO ASYL.For more information, go to: www.ecchr.eu/en/case/from-idomeni-to-strasbourg-refugees-demand-their-right-to-have-rights-at-the-ecthr/
AA and Others, Idomeni judgment – Meet Dayana ECCHR Berlin 2022-03-29 | Europe abruptly sealed off its borders along the so-called Balkan route in 2016, shutting down legal pathways facilitated during the 2015 “summer of migration.” The consequences were foreseeable: thousands locked in squalor along the border and the brutal enforcement of the closures.A group of Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis now expect answers from the European Court of Human Rights. In 2016, they submitted a case to the court regarding their illegal collective expulsion from North Macedonia into Greece. The judgment will be published on Tuesday, 5 April 2022.This is Dayana, one of the eight applicants. No longer able to cross the border regularly, she joined over 1.500 refugees on the “March of Hope” and walked peacefully from Greece to North Macedonia on 14 March 2016.After crossing the border, the group were stopped by police who did not let them apply for asylum, but forced them back through a hole in the border without a chance to challenge their expulsion. They are supported in their case by ECCHR and PRO ASYL.For more information, go to: www.ecchr.eu/en/case/from-idomeni-to-strasbourg-refugees-demand-their-right-to-have-rights-at-the-ecthr/
Certification industry: the case of the Brumadinho dam break - EN ECCHR Berlin 2022-02-02 | Recording I 27.01.2022, 17:00 Uhr (CET)Certification industry: Part of the solution or part of the problem for HRDD? The case of the Brumadinho dam breakOn 25 January 2019 it happened again, this time in Brumadinho, Brazil: a mine tailings dam broke. 272 persons were killed, hundreds injured, thousands lost their homes and livelihoods, rivers and water sources were polluted. After three years, the affected communities are still waiting for comprehensive reparation. The case is representative of a systematic chain failure of the mine operator, state oversight and privatized monitoring by certification companies.Would this crime have been prevented if at the relevant time of events, the German or an EU supply chain law had been in place? What can be done to make sure a new EU law will not leave any loopholes and will do everything possible to prevent such crimes from happening. Not only the people of Brumadinho, but all mining affected communities need good answers.Panel:Ben Vanpeperstraete, ECCHR, organization that filed a criminal complaint against the certifier company and is part of the initiative that advocated for the German supply chain lawDanilo Chammas, Brazilian lawyer and member of episcopal team of RENSER in Brumadinho that supports victims to organize and struggle for truth, justice, reparationMaria Arena (S&D), Member of the European Parliament that has supported a resolution calling for a mandatory EU framework on corporate due diligence and accountabilityClaudia Müller-Hoff, ECCHR (facilitator)
A indústria de certificação: O caso da ruptura da barragem de Brumadinho ECCHR Berlin 2022-02-02 | Gravação - 27 de Janeiro de 2022A indústria de certificação é parte da solução ou parte do problema para os direitos humanos? – O caso da ruptura da barragem de BrumadinhoEm 25 de Janeiro de 2019 aconteceu novamente, desta vez em Brumadinho: uma barragem de rejeitos de mineração se rompeu. 272 pessoas foram mortas, centenas feridas, milhares perderam as suas casas e os seus meios de subsistência, rios e fontes de água foram poluídos. Após três anos, as comunidades afetadas ainda estão esperando por uma reparação integral. O caso é representativo de uma falha sistemática de uma cadeia que envolve a operadora da mina, a supervisão estatal e o monitoramento privatizado pelas empresas certificadoras.Teria este crime sido evitado se, na altura relevante dos acontecimentos, a lei alemã ou uma lei europeia de devida diligência estivesse em vigor? O que pode ser feito para garantir que uma nova lei da UE faça todo o possível para impedir tais crimes no futuro? A população de Brumadinho e todas as comunidades afetadas pela mineração precisam de boas respostas.Painel:Ben Vanpeperstraete, ECCHR, organização que apresentou uma queixa criminal contra a empresa certificadora e faz parte da iniciativa que defendeu a lei alemã sobre a cadeia de abastecimentoDanilo Chammas, advogado brasileiro e membro da equipa episcopal da RENSER em Brumadinho, que apoia as vítimas na organização e luta pela verdade, justiça, reparaçãoMaria Arena (S&D), Membro do Parlamento Europeu, que apoiou uma resolução que apela a um quadro obrigatório da União sobre a devida diligência e responsabilidade das empresasClaudia Müller-Hoff, ECCHR (facilitadora)
Bringing Greek pushbacks to justice - Introducing Parvin A ECCHR Berlin 2022-02-02 | Parvin A was severely beaten, secretly detained and forcibly returned from Greece six times in 2020. Now she's filed a complaint with the support of ECCHR, the Greek NGO HumanRights 360 and Forensic Architecture. In this video Parvin A starts to tell her story and shows some of the video and photo evidence she gathered. It also includes excerpts of a Forensic Architecture investigation into her case.For more information go to: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/bringing-greek-push-backs-to-justice/ and parvin.forensic-architecture.orgOwing to the digital evidence she was able to preserve from inside detention and at the border, her story exposes the systematic Greek practice of pushbacks. Parvin A fled Iran due to gender-based persecution in 2017. She was recognized as a refugee in Turkey by UNHCR, but this was not acknowledged by Turkish authorities, who denied her asylum. During her quest for a safe place, she was unlawfully detained and violently pushed back six times by Greek officers across the Evros river and the Aegean Sea from February to June 2020.Greek officers subjected her to multiple human rights violations, intentionally denying her any rights or legal safeguards. She was unlawfully detained in incommunicado detention in filthy conditions, subjected to gratuitous physical violence, and summarily expelled without a chance to challenge her expulsion. Her complaint was filed against Greece to the UN Human Rights Committee for multiple violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Rupture And Reckoning: Guantánamo Turns 20 Anthology Launch Event ECCHR Berlin 2022-01-19 | On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the first “war on terror” detainees’ arrival at Guantánamo on 11 January 2002, ECCHR and partners launched the publication of an anthology that presents a diverse range of personal insider accounts, expressed in writing, interviews and artistic visual mediums, that aims to not only stir reflections on the failings of the last twenty years, but also to highlight the humanity inside the walls of the notorious detention camp.We would like to use the occasion to stimulate reflection upon the realities of Guantánamo with our publication and our digital art exhibition. The online panel discusses the impact of Guantánamo and the legal struggle for the detainees and lawyers involved.Moderated by Allison West (Senior Legal Advisor, ECCHR) in conversation with:Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Former Detainee)Katherine Gallagher (Senior Staff Attorney, CCR)Wolfgang Kaleck (General Secretary, ECCHR)
Trailer - Guantanamo Images and Imaginaries: Engaging with the Prison Through Art ECCHR Berlin 2022-01-10 | Exploring Guantánamo through diverse artistic mediums, in conversation with the artists Sarah Mirk, Mansoor Adayfi, Ian Alan Paul, Molly Crabapple, Debi Cornwall
Guantanamo Images and Imaginaries: Engaging with the Prison Through Art, Debi Cornwall ECCHR Berlin 2022-01-10 | Debi Cornwall is a photographer and former civil rights lawyer who took photographs during three visits to Guantánamo Bay in 2014 and 2015. In this video she describes her culminating project titled “Welcome to Camp America: Inside Guantánamo Bay,” which explores personal experiences at the prison from different vantage points, including the perspectives of prisoners, guards and former inmates who have been released and were brought home or deported to third-party countries.
Guantanamo Images and Imaginaries: Engaging with the Prison Through Art, Molly Crabapple ECCHR Berlin 2022-01-10 | Molly Crabapple is an award-winning artist and writer based in New York. She is the fourth artist in the last decade to be allowed to visit and draw Guantánamo Bay, its staff and inmates. On commission by Vice magazine, she drew and reported on pretrial hearings of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, as well as the prison premises and hunger striking detainees.
Guantanamo Images and Imaginaries: Engaging with the Prison Through Art, Ian Alan Paul ECCHR Berlin 2022-01-10 | On 29 August 2012, the Guantánamo Bay Museum of Art and History was opened to the public. The project operates as a critical fiction and experimental documentary, asserting that the Guantánamo Bay detention facilities have been closed and replaced by a museum that critically reflects on the social and political significance of the prison. The video introduces the project, includes a virtual tour of the museum, and features a conversation with artist Ian Alan Paul.
Guantanamo Images and Imaginaries: Engaging with the Prison Through Art, Mansoor Adayfi ECCHR Berlin 2022-01-10 | Mansoor Adayfi was born in a village in the mountains of Yemen. He was detained at Guantánamo for over 14 years, and now lives in Serbia. His memoir Don’t Forget Us Here is about his time at Guantánamo and the resilience of the human spirit. In this video he will be speaking about the meaning that art has had for himself and others detained, both while at Guantánamo and in navigating life after release.
Guantanamo Images and Imaginaries: Engaging with the Prison Through Art, Sarah Mirk ECCHR Berlin 2022-01-10 | Journalist Sarah Mirk and her team of diverse graphic artists tell the stories of ten people whose lives have been shaped and affected by the prison, including former prisoners, lawyers, social workers, and service members. This collection of illustrated interviews explores the history of Guantánamo and the world post-9/11, presenting this complicated partisan issue through a new lens.
Crimes against migrants and refugees in the context of the ICC Libya investigation - ASP Side Event ECCHR Berlin 2021-12-14 | INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURTTWENTIETH SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIESTHE HAGUE, 10 DECEMBER 2021Crimes against migrants and refugees in the context of the ICC Libya investigation // Co-hosted by the Netherlands, Lawyers for Justice in Libya, the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights and the International Federation for Human RightsPanelists:Katherine Iliopoulos (UN Fact-Finding Mission on Libya)Marwa Mohammed (LFJL)Dorine Llanta (FIDH)Chantal Meloni (ECCHR)Moderator: Jessica Lescs (Advocate at the Paris Bar)
“Moving the Bar” – A Book Talk about Michael Ratners Radical Lawyering ECCHR Berlin 2021-11-25 | Michael Ratner was a trailblazing attorney from the United States who self-identified as a “radical” lawyer. Coming into this role while still a law student at Colombia University protesting the Vietnam War, he used his legal training to support protestors and political movements facing repression across the US, and to fight US military interventions and human rights abuses around the world.In nearly four decades of work at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) in New York, Ratner was one of the first lawyers fighting the rights of Guantanamo detainees, defended Julian Assange from the US security state’s onslaught against journalism exposing US war crimes, and long supported the Palestinian struggle for rights and justice. Beyond the courtroom, he mobilized and inspired generations of activists and lawyers around the globe, including in Berlin, where he co-founded ECCHR and served in its Advisory Board until he passed away in 2016.On the 24th of November we organized a event to honor Michael Ratner’s lifetime achievements and impact. His recently published posthumous memoir titled Moving the Bar: My Life as a Radical Lawyer (OR Books) is a rich source of insight and inspiration. This book talk event brings some of those who knew Michael best into conversation – both virtually and in-person – on his work, life and broader legacy in relation to the causes he championed and what it means to be a radical human rights lawyer today.Speakers include Wolfgang Kaleck (ECCHR general secretary, Berlin), Reed Brody (Human rights lawyer, ECCHR Advisory Board, Berlin), Lotte Leicht (ECCHR Chairperson, Human Rights Watch, New York) and Claire Tixeire (Senior Legal Advisor, ECCHR, Berlin), with online contributions from Vince Warren (CCR executive director, New York), Raji Sourani (Palestinian Center for Human Rights’ director, Gaza, TBD), Jen Robinson (Human rights lawyer and barrister with Doughty Street Chambers), and Maria LaHood (CCR deputy legal director, New York).The event kicks off the 10th anniversary of the ECCHR Alumni* Reunion. The book talk is also part of the event series Rupture and reckoning: 20 years of Guantánamo organized by ECCHR on the legacy of the infamous Guantánamo Bay detention center and U.S. counterterrorism 20 years after 9/11.#ECCHR #MichaelRatner #Talk
Guantanamo voices: True accounts from the world’s most infamous prison - ein Buchgespräch ECCHR Berlin 2021-10-29 | "Guantanamo voices: True accounts from the world’s most infamous prison" - ein Buchgespräch mit der Autorin Sarah Mirk und Andreas Schüller (ECCHR)11. September 2021 @ Internationales Literaturfestival BerlinModeriert von Lilian Pithan spricht die Autorin Sarah Mirk mit Andreas Schüller (ECCHR) über ihre Graphic Novel. In dieser führt sie Interviews mit zehn Menschen, deren Leben von Guantánamo geprägt und beeinflusst wurde, darunter ehemalige Gefangene, Anwält*innen, Sozialarbeiter*innen und Angehörige des Militärs.
Panel discussion: Transnational legal activism in global value chains ECCHR Berlin 2021-09-22 | On 10 September 2021, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung hosted an international panel discussion to commemorate the loss of 258 workers in the Ali Ennterprise factory fire in Karachi, Pakistan, nine years ago and to mark the publication of the book Transnational legal activism in global value chains. The discussion included Pakistani contributors to the book, who are also protagonists in the struggle for justice around the Ali Enterprises factory fire.Speakers:Saeeda Khatoon (Ali Enterprises Factory Fire Affectees Association, Pakistan)Nasir Mansoor (National Trade Union Federation, Pakistan)Faisal Sidiqi (Supreme Court Advocate and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research)Miriam Saage-Maaß (ECCHR, Germany)Moderation: Peer Zumbansen (McGill University, Canada)The publication Transnational legal activism in global value chains - The Ali Enterprises Factory Fire and the Struggle for Justice, edited by Miriam Saage-Maaß, Peer Zumbansen, Michael Bader and Palvasha Shahab (Open Access: link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-73835-8) is the product of a collaborative research project. Resulting from the tragic and avoidable fire at the Ali Enterprises textile factory on 11 September 2012 in Karachi, Pakistan, academics and practitioners explored the legal advocacy and law reform efforts that have been unfolding after this man-made disaster. The incident costed the lives of at least 258 workers and left another 55 injured. Many of the egregious and inadequate working conditions have not significantly improved. Transnational legal activism in global value chains combines academic reflections about the impacts of human rights law with the experience of practitioners from the field, allows interesting insight into the thinking of academics and practitioners from South Asia about the role of Human Rights law in labour rights struggles, while providing an overview over the debate on the role of law in improving working conditions in global value chains.
Nancy Hollanders Speech at the Berlinale Opening 2021 | The Mauritanian ECCHR Berlin 2021-06-21 | Copyright ZDF/3sat
French arms exports and conflict in Yemen: State responsibility and corporate duty of vigilance ECCHR Berlin 2021-01-28 | ECCHR, Amnesty International France and Mwatana for Human Rights conference: French arms exports and conflict in Yemen: State responsibility and corporate duty of vigilance (online seminar 07.20.20)The ECCHR, Amnesty International France and Mwatana for Human Rights, partners of the Centre Delàs in the joint communication before the International Criminal Court on the role of European arms companies and government actors in the situation in Yemen, organize the conference “French Arms Exports and Conflict in Yemen: State Responsibility and Corporate duty of Vigilance”.It has been established that military equipment manufactured in France is being used in the conflict in Yemen, such as military aircraft (produced by Dassault Aviation S.A), cruise missiles (MBDA France S.A.S and MBDA UK Ldt) and targeted devices (Thalès France). This equipment is exported to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.The airstrikes in Yemen against civilians and civilian infrastructure by the Saudi Arabia and UAE-led military coalition may amount to war crimes. On 9 September 2020, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Panel of Experts on Yemen reiterated this finding while questioning the responsibility of arms suppliers – including France – to the parties to the conflict.In this context, a communication was filed with the International Criminal Court by ECCHR, Mwatana for Human Rights, and their partner organizations, including Amnesty International, on 11 December 2019. The communication raised the question of the responsibility of French and European arms companies, as well as national authorities that issue export licenses, in the Yemen conflict. These nonprofit organizations call for an investigation into the alleged complicity of company executives in 26 airstrikes that illegally killed or injured civilians and destroyed or damaged schools, hospitals, and other protected objects.In France, the March 2017 law relating to the duty of vigilance provides for the responsibility of all companies to respect human rights in the context of their activities, including the use of their products and services by third parties.This conference, chaired by Dominique Potier, Member of Parliament and rapporteur of the 2017 law, will discuss: – What role do French weapons play in the current conflict in Yemen?– Do arms export licenses exempt companies from criminal liability?– Can the French arms industry and government officials be held to account for their alleged complicity in war crimes committed in Yemen?– What are France’s international commitments regarding international arms exports and what are the weaknesses in the French export control system? – What are the human rights obligations for arms companies under the French law on the duty of vigilance?With the speakers:Dominique Potier, Member of Parliament for the 5th constituency of Meurthe-et-Moselle and member of the French National Assembly’s Economic Affairs CommitteeAli Jameel, Researcher (Mwatana for Human Rights)– Cannelle Lavite, Legal Advisor, Business and Human Rights (ECCHR)– Patrick Wilcken, Researcher, Arms Control, Security and Human Rights (Amnesty International Secretariat)– Sabine Gagnier and Aymeric Elluin (respectively Corporate Liability and Arms Advocacy Officers at Amnesty International France)
Dois anos após a explosão da barragem em Brumadinho: Que responsabilidade trazem os certificadores? ECCHR Berlin 2021-01-27 | Dois anos após a explosão fatal da barragem em Brumadinho – Que responsabilidade trazem os certificadores como a TÜV SÜD? (Online Event, 22 January 2021)O rompimento da barragem duma mina de minério de ferro em janeiro de 2019, em Brumadinho, Brasil, levou a vida de mais de 270 pessoas. Os rejeitos tóxicos da mina contaminaram grandes partes do rio Paraopeba e, portanto, a água potável de milhares de pessoas. Apenas quatro meses antes, a subsidiária brasileira da certificadora alemã TÜV Süd tinha declarado a barragem estável embora os riscos à segurança fossem conhecidos há meses. Foi por isso que cinco familiares dos mortos apresentaram queixa contra TÜV SÜD em Outubro de 2019, juntamente com MISEREOR e ECCHR. No Brasil, o Ministério Público está a investigar a subsidiária brasileira da TÜV SÜD, Bureau de Projetos e Consultoria Ltda, e a empresa de minério de ferro Vale S.A.Essa tragédia demostra que mais uma vez que interesses económicos prevalecem sobre a protecção das pessoas e do meio ambiente, e apenas algumas poucas empresas cumprem voluntariamente as suas obrigações de diligência devida em matéria de direitos humanos. O governo alemão anunciou assim uma Iniciativa de lei sobre a cadeia de suprimentos, mas esta foi bloqueada durante meses por associações empresariais. Uma lei spobre a cadeia de suprimentos teria também de incluir empresas de certificação, tais como a TÜV SÜD. As declarações de segurança que - como no caso de Brumadinho - são emitidas apesar de defeitos óbvios não são casos isolados. Os certificadores como a TÜV SÜD são repetidamente co-responsáveis pelas violações dos direitos humanos e devem ser responsabilizados em conformidade.Cuais medidas de prevencão, de responsabilizacão e de reparacão foram tomadas no Brasil desde o rompimento fatal em Brumadinho ? Que informacãos foram fornecidas pelas investigações no Brasil e na Alemanha? Que papel desempenham certificadores como a TÜV SÜD na violação dos direitos humanos na extracção de recursos naturais, e como poderia uma lei alemã sobre a cadeia de suprimentos ajudar a responsabilizar empresas e certificadores em tais casos? Discutiremos isto com:Marcela Nayara Rodrigues, activista e vítima do colapso da barragem de BrumadinhoDra. Andressa Lanchotti, Promotora de Justiça do Ministério Público de Minas GeraisClaudia Müller-Hoff, Advogada e Consultora Jurídica Sénior, Centro Europeu para os Direitos Constitucionais e Humanos (ECCHR)Armin Paasch, Referente Empresas e Direitos Humanos, MISEREOR Marina Oliveira, Coordenadora de Projetos, Região Episcopal Nossa Senhora do Rosário/Arquidiocese de Belo HorizonteModeradora: Susanne Friess, Consultora par mineração e o desenvolvimento na América Latina, MISEREOR
