Jan 12, 2024 | Comunicados de prensa, Noticias
La CIJ está preocupada por los intentos de actores poderosos en Guatemala, incluido el Ministerio Público, de subvertir la transferencia de la autoridad presidencial al presidente electo Bernardo Arévalo de León, quien debe asumir el cargo el 14 de enero de 2024.
La CIJ hace un llamamiento a todas las autoridades del Estado y a actores privados para que respeten el Estado de Derecho y desistan de interferir en el proceso de transición y cesen en sus esfuerzos por revocar o hacer ineficaces los resultados de las elecciones presidenciales de 2023.
“El sistema democrático en Guatemala está en juego. Es sorprendente que los ataques contra el proceso electoral provengan de representantes de instituciones del Estado que tienen el deber legal de defender la democracia y los derechos humanos”, afirmó Santiago Canton, Secretario General de la CIJ. “Miembros del Ministerio Público, el Congreso y el poder judicial han actuado en total desprecio de las obligaciones internacionales de Guatemala. En particular, el artículo 1 de la Carta Democrática Interamericana establece el derecho de los pueblos de las Américas a la democracia y el deber de los gobiernos de promover y defender la democracia”, añadió Canton.
El 20 de agosto de 2023, Bernardo Arévalo de León y Karin Herrera Aguilar, del partido “Movimiento Semilla”, fueron elegidos Presidente y Vicepresidenta, respectivamente, para el mandato presidencial 2024-2028. Su victoria fue certificada por el Tribunal Supremo Electoral de Guatemala. Antes y después de las elecciones, hubo múltiples intentos por parte del Ministerio Público y otras autoridades de perturbar el proceso electoral presidencial. El Parlamento Europeo y la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) han condenado y calificado algunos de estos hechos como “intentos de golpe de Estado”.
El Ministerio Público, a cargo de María Consuelo Porras Argueta, ha tenido un papel principal en estos intentos mediante el uso arbitrario de sus facultades de persecución penal. Entre otras acciones, el Ministerio Público ha abierto investigaciones penales injustificadas y espurias y ha emitido órdenes de captura y allanamiento contra magistrados y funcionarios del Tribunal Supremo Electoral, el presidente electo Arévalo, la vicepresidenta electa Herrera, miembros del partido “Movimiento Semilla”, miembros de organizaciones de la sociedad civil, académicos y estudiantes.
EL Ministerio Público también ha expresamente puesto en duda la legitimidad del proceso electoral presidencial de 2023. En una conferencia de prensa del 8 de diciembre de 2023, el jefe de la Fiscalía Especial Contra la Impunidad (FECI), José Rafael Curruchiche Cucul, afirmó que el Tribunal Supremo Electoral “se burló de los guatemaltecos” y estaba involucrado en violar la democracia del país. El Fiscal Curruchiche también afirmó que, desde el punto de vista del Ministerio Público, las elecciones de 2023 debían anularse.
Varios jueces han contribuido al uso arbitrario del derecho penal en detrimento del Estado de Derecho en Guatemala. El 8 de enero de 2024, el Juez Séptimo de Primera Instancia Penal, Fredy Raúl Orellana Letona, envió un oficio ante el Tribunal Supremo Electoral para que se ejecutara la orden de suspensión provisional de la personalidad jurídica del partido “Movimiento Semilla”. El Juez Orellana también ha ordenado que se inicie una investigación penal contra funcionarios del Tribunal Supremo Electoral.
En noviembre y diciembre de 2023, el Congreso guatemalteco y la Corte Suprema de Justicia llevaron a cabo el proceso judicial para retirar la inmunidad penal a algunos magistrados del Tribunal Supremo Electoral.
El traspaso legítimo del poder está intrínsecamente ligado al respeto del Estado de Derecho y al ejercicio de los derechos humanos y las libertades fundamentales, incluido el derecho a participar en la vida política y pública mediante el ejercicio del derecho al voto y el derecho a ser elegido. Estos derechos están garantizados por instrumentos internacionales de los que Guatemala es Estado parte, como el Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos, la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos y la Carta Democrática Interamericana. En consecuencia, la CIJ recuerda que las autoridades guatemaltecas están vinculadas por obligaciones internacionales en virtud de estos instrumentos.
La CIJ también pide a los Estados comprometidos y a la comunidad internacional que actúen para garantizar que las autoridades guatemaltecas respeten el Estado de Derecho, los derechos humanos y el sistema democrático. Si fuera necesario, los Estados miembros de la OEA deberían activar la aplicación del artículo 20 de la Carta Democrática Interamericana, en caso de que se impida que el presidente electo Arévalo asuma el cargo.
Contexto
Las elecciones presidenciales de 2023 tuvieron lugar en un contexto de impunidad generalizada por graves violaciones a los derechos humanos, denuncias confiables de cooptación de órganos judiciales, corrupción institucional generalizada y ataques contra integrantes de organizaciones de la sociedad civil y partidos políticos, según ha sido documentado por múltiples instancias, entre ellas la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH). En el caso de las y los operadores de justicia (juezas, jueces y fiscales), el Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos ha expresado su preocupación por “el incremento de la criminalización en contra de personas operadoras de justicia” y la “intimidación, el hostigamiento, el procesamiento y la persecución de quienes luchan por la rendición de cuentas por violaciones de derechos humanos y que trabajan en casos de corrupción”.
Ha habido numerosas acciones aparentemente dirigidas a socavar la integridad del proceso electoral presidencial por parte del Ministerio Público. Además de los hechos mencionados anteriormente, el 16 de noviembre de 2023, el Ministerio Público solicitó 31 órdenes allanamiento y 27 órdenes de aprehensión contra activistas, estudiantes, académicos, un miembro del “Movimiento Semilla” y personas defensoras de los derechos humanos. Entre los señalados, se encontraba el abogado de derechos humanos Ramón Cadena, quien había denunciado previamente irregularidades cometidas por el Ministerio Público. Los cargos estaban relacionados con la participación de estas personas en las protestas de 2022 contra la elección del rector de la Universidad de San Carlos. El mismo día, el Ministerio Público también indicó que el presidente electo Arévalo y la vicepresidenta electa Herrera participaron en las protestas “violentas” en busca de ventajas políticas. Por la supuesta participación en las protestas, el Ministerio Público anunció que solicitaría que se retirara la inmunidad al presidente electo Arévalo, a la vicepresidente electa Herrera y a otros miembros de su partido.
El 14 de diciembre de 2023, la Corte de Constitucionalidad resolvió una acción de amparo en la que exhortaba al Congreso a preservar el régimen democrático y a tomar todas las medidas para garantizar la transferencia pacífica del poder el 14 de enero de 2024. Además, la Corte previno a todas las autoridades guatemaltecas a que “actúen de conformidad con sus funciones para la efectividad y debido cumplimiento de la última etapa del proceso electoral.” El 11 de enero de 2024, la Corte de Constitucionalidad concedió un amparo provisional a favor de la vicepresidente electa Herrera. La Corte ordenó a todas las autoridades judiciales abstenerse solicitar y autorizar cualquier orden de aprehensión contra Herrera “sin haberse agotado el procedimiento establecido en la Ley en materia en Antejuicio”.
La situación electoral de 2023 ha sido objeto de grave preocupación de instancias internacionales, entre ellas la Unión Europea y la Organización de Estados Americanos. En esa misma línea, la CIDH otorgó medidas cautelares a favor de Arévalo y Herrera el 24 de agosto de 2023. Las medidas cautelares consideraron las alegaciones de Arévalo sobre amenazas de muerte, hostigamiento, una campaña de desprestigio y vigilancia ilegal en su contra.
El 11 de diciembre de 2023, la CIDH adoptó la “Resolución 03/2023, Derechos Humanos, la Instrumentalización del Sistema de Justicia y los Graves Riesgos para el Estado de Derecho en Guatemala”. La CIDH afirmó que Guatemala atravesaba una “grave crisis política e institucional” debido a “las acciones e injerencias indebidas y arbitrarias por parte del Ministerio Público que atentan contra el resultado de las Elecciones Generales y el proceso de transición de la Presidencia y Vicepresidencia de la República en curso”.
Jan 12, 2024 | News
The ICJ is concerned about attempts by powerful actors in Guatemala, including the Office of the Attorney General, to subvert the transfer of executive presidential authority to President-elect Bernardo Arévalo de León, who is due take office on 14 January 2024.
The ICJ calls on all State authorities and private parties to respect the Rule of Law and desist from interference in the process of transition and to cease efforts to revoke or make ineffective the results of the 2023 presidential elections.
“The democratic system in Guatemala is at stake. It is shocking that the attempts against the electoral process come from representatives of State institutions that have a legal duty to uphold democracy and human rights,” said Santiago Canton, ICJ Secretary General. “Members of the Office of the Attorney General, Congress, and the judiciary have acted in total disregard of Guatemala’s international obligations. In particular, Article 1 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter establishes the right of the peoples of the Americas to democracy and the duty of governments to promote and defend democracy,” added Canton.
On 20 August 2023, Bernardo Arévalo de León and Karin Herrera Aguilar of the “Movimiento Semilla” party were elected President and Vice-President respectively for the 2024-2028 presidential term. Their victory was certified by the Guatemalan Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Prior to and after the election, there were multiple attempts by the Office of the Attorney General and other authorities to disrupt the presidential election process. The European Parliament and the Organization of American States (OAS) have condemned and characterized certain of these efforts as an “attempted coup d’état”.
The Office of the Attorney General, led by María Consuelo Porras Argueta, has played a leading role in these attempts through the arbitrary use of its prosecutorial powers. Among other actions, the Office of the Attorney General has opened unwarranted and spurious criminal investigations and issued of arrest warrants and search warrants against justices and staff members of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, President-elect Arévalo, Vice-President-elect Herrera, members of the “Movimiento Semilla” party, members of civil society organizations, academicians, and students.
The Office of the Attorney General has also expressly cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2023 presidential election process. At a press conference on 8 December 2023 a chief prosecutor, José Rafael Curruchiche Cucul, claimed that the Supreme Electoral Tribunal “made a mockery of Guatemalans” and was involved in “violating the country’s democracy”. He also affirmed that the Attorney General’s Office’s view was that the 2023 elections should be annulled.
A number of judges have contributed to the arbitrary use of the criminal law to the detriment of the rule of law in Guatemala. On 8 January 2024, the Seventh Criminal Court Judge, Fredy Raul Orellana Letona, filed a petition before the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to execute an order for the provisional suspension of the legal personality of the “Movimiento Semilla” party. Orellana has also demanded a criminal investigation against staff members of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
In November and December 2023, the Guatemalan Congress and the Supreme Court of Justice engaged in legal proceedings aimed at waiving immunity from criminal prosecution of some justices of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
The lawful transfer of power is intrinsically linked to the respect for the rule of law and the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to participate in political and public life, including through voting and standing for elections. These rights are guaranteed by international instruments to which Guatemala is a State party, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the American Convention on Human Rights, and the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Consequently, the ICJ recalls that the Guatemalan authorities are bound by international obligations under these instruments.
The ICJ also calls on engaged States and the international community to act to ensure that the Guatemalan authorities uphold of the rule of law, human rights, and the democratic system. If necessary, Member States of the OAS should trigger the application of Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter in the event that President-elect Arévalo is obstructed from assuming office.
Background information
The 2023 presidential election took place in a context of widespread impunity for serious human rights violations over the course of decades, reliable allegations of co-option of judicial bodies, widespread institutional corruption, and attacks against members of civil society organizations and political parties, as documented by multiple instances, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). In the case of justice officials (judges and prosecutors), the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed his concern about “the growing number of criminal cases brought against justice officials” and the “intimidation, harassment, prosecution and persecution of those fighting for accountability for human rights violations, including work on corruption cases”.
There have been numerous actions apparently aimed at undermining the integrity of the presidential election process by the Attorney General and prosecutorial authorities. In addition to the incidents mentioned above, on 16 November 2023, the Office of the Attorney General issued 31 search warrants and 27 arrest warrants against activists, students, academics, a member of the Semilla Movement, and human rights defenders. Among those targeted was the human rights lawyer Ramón Cadena, who had previously denounced irregularities committed by the Office of the Attorney General. The charges were related to their participation in the 2022 protests against the election of the rector of the San Carlos University. On the same day, the Attorney General’s Office also alleged that President-elect Arévalo and Vice-president elect Herrera were involved in the “violent” protests seeking political advantage. For the purported participation in the protests, the Attorney General’s Office announced that it would request that President-elect Arévalo, Vice-President elect Herrera, and other members of their party be stripped of their immunity from prosecution.
On 14 December 2023, the Constitutional Court handed down an amparo action in which it exhorted Congress to preserve the democratic regime and to take all measures to ensure the peaceful transfer of power on 14 January 2024. In addition, the Court enjoined all Guatemalan authorities to “act in accordance with their functions for the effectiveness and proper completion of the final stage of the electoral process”. On 11 January 2024, the Constitutional Court also granted a “protection order” in favour of the Vice-President-elect Herrera. The Court ordered all judicial authorities not to issue or grant any arrest warrant against Herrera without waiving immunity from prosecution.
The 2023 electoral situation has been the subject of grave concern of international instances, including the European Union and the Organization of American States. In this connection, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favour of Arévalo and Herrera on 24 August 2023. The precautionary measures considered Arévalo’s allegations of death threats, harassment, a smear campaign, and illegal surveillance.
On 11 December 2023, the IACHR adopted “Resolution 03/2023, Instrumentalization of the Justice System and Serious Risks for the Rule of Law in Guatemala”. The IACHR stated that Guatemala was experiencing a “serious political and institutional crisis” due to “the unwarranted and arbitrary actions and interference of the Attorney General’s Office, which are endangering the results of this year’s General Election”.
Jan 12, 2024 | News
The ICJ firmly condemns the criminal conviction and sentencing of journalist and columnist Zied Elheni to a six-month suspended sentence of imprisonment on 10 January 2024 on spurious charges — an act of clear retaliation for Zied Elheni’s legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression, including to criticize government members.
البيان باللغة العربية
“This guilty verdict is part and parcel of an escalation in attacks on journalists and another concrete illustration of the Tunisian authorities’ authoritarian drift and of their drive to restrict the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression and to silence independent voices in the country,” said Said Benarbia, ICJ Middle East and North Africa programme director. “These attacks violate media freedom and the right of the public to freely access information and have a chilling effect on free speech,” he added.
On 28 December 2023, Zied Elheni was summoned to appear before the Fifth Central Cybercrime Brigade of the Aouina National Guard, a few hours after he had made a statement critical of the Minister of Commerce on Radio IFM. On the same day, the public prosecutor at the Tunis First Instance Tribunal decided to remand Elheni in custody on suspicion of offences under article 24 of Decree-Law 54; his detention was extended by 48 hours on 30 December.
On 1 January, the public prosecutor at the Tunis First Instance Tribunal charged Elheni with “harming or disturbing third parties through public telecommunications networks,” under article 86 of the Telecommunications Code, and remanded him in custody pending trial. On 10 January, Elheni was tried before the Criminal Chamber of the Tunis First Instance Tribunal and convicted of the charges.
In June 2023, Elheni was arrested and questioned by the Fifth Central Cybercrime Brigade of the Aouina National Guard in a distinct case, following a statement he had made on the radio in which he had criticized the authorities’ arbitrary reliance on the crime of offending the President of the Republic under article 67 of the Criminal Code. He was later released and there have been no further developments in this case.
The ICJ calls on the Tunisian authorities to quash Elheni’s conviction and sentence under article 86 of the Telecommunications Code and to drop all charges against all journalists currently being prosecuted solely for the legitimate exercise of their journalistic duties and the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, and to immediately cease all practices that impede the independent work of journalists.
Background
There has been a growing pattern of prosecutions against journalists since July 2021 in Tunisia. Monia Arfaoui and Mohamed Boughalleb were prosecuted in March and April 2023 based on Decree-Law 54, in relation to their work as investigative journalists. Noureddine Boutar, journalist and director of Mosaique FM, was also arrested and placed in pre-trial detention in February 2023 in relation to criminal proceedings based on “State security-related” charges aimed to crack down on government critics, before being released on bail in May 2023. The charges against him, however, are still pending.
Contact
Said Benarbia, Director, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme, t: +41-22-979-3800; e: said.benarbia(a)icj.org
Jan 8, 2024 | Advocacy, Cases, News
For Immediate Release
Gambian Ex-Minister Sonko Faces Crimes Against Humanity Charges
(Geneva, January 5, 2024) – The opening of a Swiss trial on January 8, 2024, for serious crimes committed in The Gambia represents a significant advance for justice for the victims of grave abuses, Gambian and international groups that are part of the Jammeh2Justice campaign said today.
The former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko is charged with crimes against humanity relating to torture, kidnapping, sexual violence, and unlawful killings between 2000 and 2016 under then-President Yahya Jammeh. Jammeh’s 22-year rule was marked by systematic and widespread human rights violations, such as arbitrary arrests, torture including sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances of actual and perceived opponents to his rule.
“The trial of Ousman Sonko is another major step in the search for justice for victims of brutal crimes and their families committed under Jammeh’s rule,” said Sirra Ndow, coordinator of the Jammeh2Justice campaign. “The Sonko case should reinforce efforts back in The Gambia to try crimes under Jammeh’s rule so that perpetrators are held to account for the atrocities committed.”
Sonko was arrested in Bern, Switzerland on January 26, 2017, the day after TRIAL International filed a criminal complaint against him. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland filed an indictment against Sonko before the Federal Criminal Court on April 17, 2023. The trial, taking place in the city of Bellinzona, is expected to last about three weeks.
The trial is possible because Swiss law recognizes universal jurisdiction over certain serious international crimes, allowing for the prosecution of these crimes no matter where they were committed and regardless of the nationality of the suspects or victims. Swiss nongovernmental organizations, former federal prosecutors, members of parliament, and others have previously criticized judicial officials in Switzerland for lagging behind other European countries on universal jurisdiction cases despite having solid legislation to address serious crimes.
“With Sonko’s trial, Switzerland appears at last to be gaining momentum on prosecuting atrocity crimes committed abroad,” said Philip Grant, executive director at TRIAL International, which supports plaintiffs in the case. “Sonko is the highest-level former official to be tried under the principle of universal jurisdiction in Europe.”
Sonko is the second person to be tried in Switzerland before a non-military court for serious crimes committed abroad, the second person to be tried in Europe for crimes committed in The Gambia, and the highest ranked official to be prosecuted in Europe on the basis of universal jurisdiction. Gambian activists and survivors, and international advocates will attend the trial’s opening in Bellinzona and are available for comment. The first case addressing crimes committed in The Gambia was in Germany against Bai Lowe, a former member of the paramilitary unit known as the “Junglers,” which Jammeh created. Lowe was convicted and sentenced to life in prison by a German court on November 30, 2023, for two murders and an attempted murder, constituting crimes against humanity.
A major challenge will be to ensure that Gambians, whether in the audience or outside the courtroom, can access, follow, and understand the proceedings, which will be conducted in German. Survivors, victims’ groups, and civil society groups have tried to ensure that information on developments is disseminated within The Gambia to increase their impact.
“Developments in the proceedings of such a significant case should be made accessible to Gambians, victims and non-victims alike, in the English language, which they understand, there by boosting their interest in the trial,” said Fatoumata Sandeng, a plaintiff in the Sonko case who heads the Solo Sandeng Foundation. “Greater action on accountability by the government back home in Gambia is also needed.”
Since Jammeh’s fall, The Gambia has moved forward with only two prosecutions for Jammeh-era crimes. In December 24, 2021, the final report of Gambia’s Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) found that Jammeh and 69 of his associates committed crimes against humanity, and called for their prosecution. On May 25, 2022, the Gambian government accepted the TRRC’s recommendation for accountability, but without an action plan.
On May 12, 2023, the government presented a long-awaited detailed implementation plan calling for the creation of a Special Prosecutor’s Office to complete the investigations initiated by the TRRC and to prepare case-ready dossiers. A hybrid tribunal of Gambia and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would be created to carry out prosecutions of the most serious offenses. The Gambia and ECOWAS have created a joint technical committee to develop the hybrid court.
“The Gambian government and ECOWAS should move without delay to create the hybrid court,” said Elise Keppler, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch. “Victims and the Gambian public have waited a very long time to have the chance to see justice done.”
Groups involved with the campaign include: Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), African Network Against Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances (ANEKED), Amnesty International–Ghana, Center for Justice and Accountability, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations, Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-GHANA), Human Rights Advocacy Center, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), POS Foundation, Right 2 Know–Gambia, Solo Sandeng Foundation, The Toufah Foundation, TRIAL International, and Women’s Association for Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE).
For more information on the trial, please visit:
https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/ousman-sonko-case-the-second-trial-for-crimes-against-humanity-in-switzerland-to-take-place-in-january-2024/
or, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-Ousman-Sonko-Case_QA.pdf
For more information, please contact:
For Human Rights Watch, in New York, Elise Keppler (English, French): +1-917-687-8576 (mobile); or kepplee@hrw.org. Twitter: @EliseKeppler
For TRIAL International, in Geneva, Vony Rambolamanana (English, French, German): +33-66 -48-80-305 (mobile); or media@trialinternational.org. Twitter: @trial
For ANEKED, in New York, Nana-Jo Ndow (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese): +1-929-684-5734 (mobile); or nanajo.ndow@aneked.org. @theANEKED
For International Commission of Jurists, in Barcelona, Reed Brody (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese): +1-917-388-6745 (mobile); or reedbrody@gmail.com. Twitter: @reedbrody
For Solo Sandeng Foundation, in Germany, Fatoumatta Sandeng (English, German, Mandinka, Wollof) +49-16-31-74-75-19 (mobile); or solosandengfoundation@gmail.com. Twitter: @solosandengfound
Dec 20, 2023 | Advocacy, News
Today, the ICJ condemned aspects of the agreement reached by the EU Member States and the European Parliament on the last five instruments from the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, stressing that it will effectively strip away core human rights and refugee protections for persons from vulnerable populations.
The ICJ calls on the EU and its Member States to adhere strictly to their international legal obligations, particularly under human rights law and refugee law, in implementing any new legislative measures.
The Pact, a major set of legislative proposals on the EU’s migration policy initially proposed by the European Commission in September 2020, aims to update the existing rules of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which was renegotiated just a few years prior to this proposal.
« The agreement reached today between the co-legislators, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament sends a worrying signal on the state of EU’s commitment to human rights protection, » said Karolína Babická, Senior Legal Adviser of the ICJ Europe and Central Asia Programme. « Although a final text of the legislative instruments is yet to be seen, the agreement waters down protection and safeguards for the rights of migrants and refugees, that oblige the EU Member States under international law. »
Based on the agreement reached today on the Asylum Procedures Regulation, applicants will not have access to free legal assistance, including in border procedures, as it will only be available for certain persons at the appeals stage, where for many it will be too late. Other points agreed include more fast-track procedures with fewer individual safeguards for the migrants and refugees in question. The Council and the European Parliament also agreed with the proposal of a fiction of “non-entry” to the territory, which is intended have the effect of removing migrants and refugees from the protective of spheres of the state on the grounds that they are not really in the country.
« These are in breach of international human rights standards and rules on jurisdiction and will lead to more administrative detention, which effectively punishes those in most need of protection, » said Babická, « It appears that the instruments are intended to allow for border procedures with nearly no procedural safeguards, resulting in quick deportations. However, even in border zones or transit zones, the State’s human rights law obligations remain fully applicable. »
The asylum border procedure as agreed would apply to asylum seekers who are either “unlikely to be granted asylum”, whose claim is fraudulent or abusive, or who are considered a security risk. This provision undermines the key principle of refugee protection, ensuring an individual assessment of one’s asylum claim. Regardless of the general recognition rate, many individuals are still refugees in need of protection status due to circumstances of their individual case. Equally in assessing whether the application is fraudulent, abusive or potentially a security risk, an individualised assessment must be in place.
Indeed, it is difficult to assess any of the purported criteria without fair hearing based on equal protection and the rule of law.
A further problematic aspect includes the disparate treatment and safeguards for available for children below the age of twelve and those twelve and older. Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is considered a person under the age of 18 must be afforded the protections due to them. Under these rules, older children would for instance not be exempted from border procedures.
The ICJ has previously warned about harmful provisions in the proposals regarding detention in the Screening and Asylum Procedures Regulation.
The Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management, replacing the current Dublin Regulation, will now exclude the possibility for applicants to be transferred to the Member State where they have a sibling or other family member with a legal residence. This provision seriously worsens the situation of asylum applicants in the EU CEAS so far, in breach of international legal standards, especially the right to family life.
