Newsletter Août 2009 - Numéro 6 (en anglais)

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

European Parliament resolution on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU (2004-2008)

 

The European Parliament:

Is concerned at the fact that, for several years, there has been an increase in the number of detention centres for foreign nationals in Member States and at their borders; on the basis of a host of reports, including those by delegations from its Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, which condemn frequent violations of human rights, calls for the following actions to be taken:

- ensuring access for NGOs specialising in protecting the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum-seekers so that their presence at detention centres is enshrined in law and not simply the result of good will;

- setting up an independent verification body at European level with responsibility for supervising detention centres as regards the protection of human rights;

- asking the Agency for an annual report analysing the situation of individuals placed in detention centres under the authority of Member States, within or outside their borders, and to submit it to Parliament; (par. 108)

Takes the view that poverty and social exclusion can only be combated by guaranteeing all the fundamental rights, including economic and social rights, of everyone; (…)(par. 136)

Stresses that there is a set of indivisible, interdependent fundamental rights to which all human beings must be guaranteed genuine access; (par. 137)

Recalls that article 35 of the Charter provides everyone with a right of access to preventive health care and the right to benefit from medical treatment; calls the Member States to insure access to adequate healthcare in particular for those who are on low incomes and those whose state of health requires long or expensive intensive care. (par. 149)

Source: European Parliament resolution on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU (2004-2008)

 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

 

Communication aiming to support the reduction of health inequalities

The European Commission requested input to the development of a Commission Communication aiming to support the reduction of health inequalities in the EU, a draft of which is still in discussion at Commission level. The Commission recently released a report of the responses received to this written consultation, giving a broad overview of the 125 answers received.

It is available here: Report of the Consultation concerning the development of a Commission Communication aiming to support the reduction of health inequalities in the EU

 

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

 

GERMANY

Creation of a fund to finance emergency healthcare for undocumented migrants
On July 2^nd, the city council of Munich voted unanimously the creation of a fund to finance emergency healthcare for undocumented migrants and people without health insurance. The fund should be endowed with € 100.000 a year and serve two purposes:

- Support NGOs (Ärzte der Welt and café 104) already offering medical support to undocumented migrants;

- Finance emergency healthcare on an individual basis: the procedure is supposed to be un-bureaucratic: Ärzte der Welt, café 104 and the Malteser will have to apply for a funding for a specific patient at the social welfare office. The office will check if the person is not entitled to social benefits, or in the case of undocumented migrants, will check with the foreigner department if the person does not have the possibility to obtain a residence permit. If this is not the case, the funding will be granted.

Fatal delay
An undocumented migrant, who had lived in Germany for 20 years, suffering from AIDS, did not dare –out of fear of being denounced and
expulsed - to seek medical support before the end of July. He died some weeks later. According to Medizinischen Flüchtlingshilfe (‘Medical care for refugees’), this would not have been the case if medical care and treatment could be provided to undocumented migrants on an anonymous basis.
Source: Die Tageszeitung (www.taz.be)

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Expert panel on detention of irregular migrants

The Human Rights Council decided to have an expert panel on current trends, good practices, challenges and possible solutions to detention of irregular migrants and explore ways to prevent violations of their human rights, and elaborate on how to reduce the overuse and duration of detention for persons who enter or remain in a country in an irregular manner. The meeting will be held in Geneva on September 17^th.

Source: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/11session/A.HRC.11.37.doc

VACANCIES

 

- The HUMA network is looking for a consultant to conduct an evaluation of a European advocacy project on health care access for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. Closing date for application is 15 September 2009.

 

- The HUMA network is also looking for a communication officer (internship).

 

Further details available at: www.huma-network.org > News and press releases