Spain must better "
protect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
", said Tuesday the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, who deplores the absence of "
d 'genuine access to asylum
' between Nador, Morocco, and the Spanish enclave of Melilla.
"
Much remains to be done to guarantee access to the rights of the most vulnerable and to protect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
," said Dunja Mijatovic, who visited Spain last week. , from November 21 to 25.
“
Access to rights and protection varies considerably across the country and remains very difficult for many refugees and asylum seekers”, she notes, pointing to “long waiting periods to access the procedure asylum, delays in identifying particular vulnerabilities and barriers to accessing social rights, including housing and health
”.
Read alsoA thousand migrants try in vain to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla
It also underlines the absence of "
genuine and effective access to asylum
" between the Moroccan city of Nador and the border town of Melilla, a Spanish enclave located in Moroccan territory.
"
In practice, there does not seem to be any other way to enter Melilla and seek protection from the competent authorities than by swimming or jumping the fence, at the risk of one's life
", worries the commissioner. .
Dunja Mijatovic “
concerned
”
Dunja Mijatovic is also “
concerned
” by a report from the Spanish Ombudsman according to which, “
to date, 470 people have been sent back to Morocco without any legal procedure having been observed
”.
"
All States (have) the right to control their borders and to cooperate with other States to do so
", but "
this must be done in full respect of all applicable international human rights standards
“, she insists.
Spain, "
like other member states of the Council of Europe, should not contribute directly or indirectly to violations of human rights.
“, she still believes.
Dunja Mijatovic also welcomed the measures adopted by Madrid "
for the protection and reception of people fleeing the war in Ukraine
".
She also noted the improvement of the “
reception conditions
” of migrants “
in the Canary Islands
”, as well as the “
additional funds (...) allocated to ensure adequate protection and reception of unaccompanied migrant children
”.
