Photo: Megan Trace
A declaration following the 15th European Asylum Conference, which met from 15 to 20 October 2018 in Chios and Athens, calls for measures to improve the situation for refugees seeking sanctuary in Europe. These include an end to the EU asylum regime of ‘hotspots’; the establishment of ways of safe passage into Europe; a true Common European Asylum System based on high standards in reception and procedure; and immediate transfer of asylum seekers from the islands to the Greek mainland.
Delegates were shocked to observe the ‘undignified and humiliating condition’ of refugees on Chios and concerned about the impact on local people, who feel left alone in this situation. They were also unhappy with the apparent lack of clear responsibility between different organisations, leading to different stakeholders either not taking or only partly taking on the role they would need to play, creating a general state of non accountability.
You can read more about the declaration on the Focus on Refugees website.
