Cavafy Walls

WALLS

They did not seek my permission
to brick me in, to entomb me
before they built these massive walls around me.

I brood forlornly, without hope
contemplating my ignominious fate.

I had plans, such ambitious plans.
While I crouched here intensely plotting
they were building brick on brick
and stone on stone around me.

I never heard a thing, was unaware
how quickly and how stealthily they sealed me.

Greece: Initial steps to improve refugee policy, police conduct and minority rights, says Commisioner for Human Rights

Strasbourg, 11.02.2010 – The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, concluded yesterday a three-day visit to Greece during which he held discussions with a number of authorities including the Vice-President of the Government, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Citizen Protection. He also met with national, international and non-governmental organizations.

The Commissioner welcomed the willingness of the Greek government to tackle long-standing, structural problems in the field of asylum and police misconduct. “If implemented rigorously, systematically and in conformity with international standards, the planned changes have the potential of coping successfully with serious human rights challenges in Greece”, Commissioner Hammarberg said.

The Commissioner noted with deep concern that asylum seekers in Greece continue to face enormous difficulties trying to gain access to the asylum procedure, and do not always enjoy basic safeguards such as interpretation and legal aid. He welcomed the current plans to proceed with an overhaul of the system and move towards a fair, accessible and swift asylum procedure. This includes in particular the establishment of an independent asylum agency and screening centers at entry points. During the visit, the Commissioner stressed that asylum and immigration are issues that can only be tackled effectively by a concerted effort at European level and that solidarity by other EU countries must therefore be increased.

The Commissioner was pleased to note the ongoing reform of nationality legislation, which aims to facilitate acquisition of Greek citizenship, inter alia, by children born in Greece to non-Greek parents. The reform will also grant long term residents the right to vote in local elections. “In this way, Greece will move towards greater compliance with European standards, and benefit from enhanced participation of people of migrant background to society”, Commissioner Hammarberg stated.

As regards police misconduct, the Commissioner welcomed current plans to establish an office to deal with police complaints. He appreciated the openness of the Minister of Citizen Protection to draw on the expertise of other European countries and the guidance of the Commissioner himself, reflected notably in his Opinion concerning determination of complaints against the police.

Finally, as concerns the protection of the human rights of minorities, Commissioner Hammarberg stressed that the Greek authorities need “to show greater receptiveness to diversity in their society and to take further measures that would allow minority groups to express their identity on the basis of self identification”. To this end, full and effective implementation of the relevant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities are particularly important measures.

Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
Communication Unit
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 35 38
Fax:+33 (0)3 90 21 50 53

Paris Calais - Calais Paris

an excellent documentary of Elisabeth COSIMI and Vincent RIOUX : «Paris Calais - Calais Paris»

many thanks to France terre d'asile that shared it with us

ICRC survey shows disturbing impact of hostilities on civilians

International Committee of the Red Cross Press release
23-06-2009

War and armed violence take an alarming toll on civilians in conflict-affected countries across the globe, according to new findings published by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday. The survey reveals that displacement, separation from family members and a lack of access to basic necessities are among people's most common experiences and biggest fears.

Of those people directly affected by hostilities, 56% said they had been displaced by fighting, while almost half said they had lost contact with a loved one. One in five said they had lost their means of income.

The report, entitled "Our world. Views from the field" looks at the personal experiences, needs, worries, expectations and frustrations of conflict-affected populations in eight countries: Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia and the Philippines. It was compiled by the Ipsos research agency and is being released to mark the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino on 24 June.

"What's new about this research is that it gives us a more comprehensive overview of how the victims of armed conflict and violence are affected across the board," said Pierre Krähenbühl, the ICRC's director of operations. "These figures represent millions of people who are struggling to provide for their children, who have been forced to flee their villages under threat, or who live in constant fear that someone they care for will be killed, assaulted or disappear. That's very disturbing."

In Afghanistan, 76% of those who had personal experience of armed conflict said they were forced to leave their homes, while 61% said they had lost contact with a close relative. In Liberia, a startling 90% of people said they had been displaced, followed by 61% in Lebanon and 58% in DRC. The loss of contact with a relative was also high in Liberia (86%), Lebanon (51%) and DRC (47%).

Limited access to services, such as water, electricity and health care, emerged as a widespread problem, particularly in Afghanistan and Haiti, where well over half of the people directly affected by armed violence said they had experienced a lack of these basic necessities.

As part of the research process, the ICRC conducted focus groups in the conflict-affected countries to gain a more in-depth understanding of people's true experiences of war.

"By talking to a wide range of people, and really listening to what they have to say, we're able to see the situation through their eyes. This will greatly enhance and inform our approach towards helping them and others in need," said the ICRC's deputy director of communication, Charlotte Lindsey, who oversaw the survey.

According to the report, people most often turn to those “closest to home” for help. In all of the countries where the research took place, people said their families and communities were first to give assistance and best understood their needs.

“We need to do everything we can to strengthen the capacity of communities to cope in the face of armed conflict," said Mr. Krähenbühl. “By working with people from affected areas, and with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and local authorities, we try to accompany families and communities at a grassroots level. The survey underscores the importance of this way of working.”

Timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino, which took place on 24 June 1859, the new research looks at "today's Solferinos" and their impact on people. More than 38,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in 1859, when allied Franco-Sardinian troops clashed with Austrian soldiers in northern Italy. The battle led to the creation of the ICRC, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the Geneva Conventions.

"When you look at Solferino, where only one civilian was reportedly killed, and you compare it with modern-day conflicts in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Gaza or Somalia, you find that warfare today takes a more widespread physical and emotional toll on civilians," said Mr. Krähenbühl. "This clearly points to a need for warring parties to better respect international humanitarian law and the rules of war. Civilians and their property must be spared and protected at all times."

Other key findings of the report

Of the more than 4,000 people surveyed, 44% overall said they had personally experienced armed conflict. The highest figures were in Liberia (96%), Lebanon (75%) and Afghanistan (60%).

Around 66% of all respondents said they had felt the consequences of hostilities, even if they did not consider themselves personally or directly affected. This includes almost everyone in Lebanon (96%), Liberia (96%), Haiti (98%) and Afghanistan (96%).

Almost 30% of those directly affected by fighting said a close family member had been killed during fighting. This figure was dramatically higher in Liberia (69%) and Afghanistan (45%). In both Lebanon and DRC, the corresponding figure was about 25%.

The loss of income among those directly affected by violence and armed conflict was highest in Afghanistan (60%), Lebanon (51%) and Haiti (40%). Across the eight countries, 18% said they had been wounded by fighting. In addition, 17% said they had been tortured, while 32% said they had experienced humiliation.