With this report we aim to raise the issues of the systemic human rights violations against migrants and refugees
seeking protection in Europe at the EU’s
external borders and of the ongoing impunity of the perpetrators, and to promote a human rights - based approach
to the EU external migration and border
policy.
6
2. THE SITUATION AT
THE BORDERS
2023 will be mostly remembered for
the deadliest migrant shipwreck in the
Mediterranean Sea in recent years, the
Pylos Shipwreck of 14 June 2023 (see
subchapter 2.1). However, this was not
an isolated incident, but instead occurred within a larger context. There
are numerous reports of alleged pushbacks and violations committed by the
Greek authorities in 2023, published by
international and national human rights
bodies and organizations to independent authorities and international research media, while the civic space in
Greece remains restricted due to concerns related to civil society organizations working with refugees and asylum
seekers (see subchapter 2.2.). Moreover,
the situation at the Evros Greek-Turkish border continued to be particularly
worrying (see subchapter 2.3.).
AT EUROPE’S BORDERS: PUSHBACKS CONTINUE AS IMPUNITY PERSISTS