Dear Supporter,

We have been fighting against illegal and violent pushbacks at European borders together for some time, and I wanted to share with you some recent good news. For the first time in history the European Court for Human Rights condemned Greece’s practice of pushbacks. This is a huge wake up call for the European Union and highlights that a state cannot simply turn its back on international law and the values we should be upholding.

You can read the full blog HERE, written by Aideen Elliott, Migration Policy Lead at Oxfam Ireland and Alkistis Agrafioti Chatzigianni Advocacy Officer and Lawyer at The Greek Council for Refugees.

Pushbacks are pushing people back over a border or forcefully returning them to a country they are trying to leave without allowing them to apply for international protection. They are a violation to human rights, international law and most importantly, our collective values. We spoke with our partner in Greek Council for Refugees Alkistis Agrafioti Chatzigianni, the day after the judgement and she told us that:

“This landmark judgment is a great victory for human rights. The European Court’s recognition of the illegal and systematic practice of pushbacks of the Greek state is a vindication for thousands of victims at the EU’s external borders. Ιt is also a vindication for all human rights defenders criminalised and targeted for supporting victims of pushbacks committed by the Greek authorities.”

So, what is next?

There are more rulings to come; more than 30 applications against Greece are pending before the European Court of Human Rights, that entail ill-treatment at the EU’s external borders. We will keep you updated on the proceedings.

There is still work to do be done to achieve human rights at our borders. Oxfam Ireland alongside many other human rights defenders around Europe are ready to continue this work, we hope you are as well.

In Solidarity,

Sinéad Roche (She/Her)

Campaigns Coordinator, Oxfam Ireland