UN on Pylos shipwreck: “It is clear that the disaster is the product of political decisions” PHOTO – VIDEO

UN Expert Blames Greek Authorities for Deadly Shipwreck

In a scathing critique of the Greek authorities, UN special expert for human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has accused them of failing to prevent the deadly shipwreck off Pylos that claimed the lives of hundreds of refugees. Lawlor’s comments were made in an article published in Social Europe, where she highlighted the need for safe and legal routes for migrants and refugees.

Lawlor stated that while the exact details of the shipwreck are still being investigated, it is clear that the tragedy could have been avoided. The activist group Alarm Phone had alerted Greek authorities to the boat’s danger hours before it capsized, and the Hellenic Coast Guard was in contact with the ship’s passengers. Under international law, they had an obligation to intervene due to the overcrowding and unseaworthiness of the vessel.

The UN rapporteur emphasized that the disaster was a result of political decisions. She criticized Greece and the European Union (EU) for blaming smugglers for such incidents, stating that people embark on dangerous routes because there are no safe and legal alternatives. Lawlor argued that only states can open these routes and that they have chosen not to do so.

Lawlor also highlighted the EU’s reduced search and rescue capacity and the suppression of solidarity efforts. She condemned the lack of accountability for human rights violations and referred to the persecution of activists who work to save lives and protect human dignity.

The UN expert criticized the EU’s approach to immigration and international protection, stating that it prioritizes security and control over human rights. Lawlor pointed out that the recent agreement on the new asylum regulation, if passed into law, would consolidate problematic aspects of the current EU asylum system and further prevent people from seeking refuge in the bloc.

The deadly shipwreck off Pylos is not an isolated incident. Lawlor mentioned a similar tragedy in 2013 off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy, where at least 400 people lost their lives. She called for a change in approach and urged states to prioritize human rights and provide safe and legal routes for migrants and refugees.

The article by Mary Lawlor serves as a reminder of the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life and protect the rights and dignity of those seeking refuge.Title: UN Expert Blames Greek Authorities for Deadly Shipwreck, Calls for Safe Routes

Subtitle: The tragedy off Pylos highlights the need for safe and legal migration pathways

Date: [Insert Date]

In a scathing critique of the Greek authorities, the UN special expert for human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has condemned their role in the deadly shipwreck that claimed the lives of hundreds of refugees off Pylos. Lawlor argues that the tragedy could have been avoided if the Greek authorities had fulfilled their obligations under international law.

According to Lawlor, the activist group Alarm Phone had alerted the Greek authorities to the boat’s danger hours before it capsized. The Hellenic Coast Guard was in contact with the ship’s passengers and had a responsibility to intervene due to the overcrowding and unseaworthiness of the vessel. Lawlor asserts that the disaster was a result of political decisions and calls for accountability.

Lawlor emphasizes that blaming smugglers for such tragedies is not the solution. She argues that as long as there are no safe, legal, and accessible routes for people fleeing conflict, climate change, or seeking a better life, smugglers will continue to exploit desperate individuals. Lawlor points out that only states have the power to open these routes and that they have chosen not to do so.

The UN rapporteur highlights the European Union’s role in the crisis, stating that the EU and its member states are willing to accept the deaths of people at their borders. Lawlor draws attention to a similar shipwreck in 2013 off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy, where over 400 people lost their lives. Despite promises to prevent such tragedies, more than 24,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean since then.

Lawlor criticizes the EU’s reduced search and rescue capacity and the suppression of solidarity efforts. She argues that while so-called smugglers are prosecuted, there is no accountability for the massive human rights violations occurring at Europe’s borders. Lawlor describes these incidents as crimes committed with impunity, along with systematic pushbacks.

The UN expert highlights the crucial role of human rights defenders who have been working tirelessly to save lives and protect human dignity. However, their efforts are often suppressed, undermined, and obstructed by states, while they themselves face criminalization and threats. Lawlor attributes this to the EU’s prioritization of security and control over human rights considerations in immigration and international protection.

Lawlor concludes by criticizing the recent agreement among EU member states on the new asylum regulation, which she believes will consolidate problematic aspects of the current EU asylum system. She warns that the new rules aim to prevent people from entering the bloc and facilitate returns, further exacerbating the crisis.

The tragic shipwreck off Pylos serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for safe and legal migration pathways. Lawlor’s condemnation of the Greek authorities and the EU’s approach to migration highlights the importance of addressing this humanitarian crisis with compassion and respect for human rights.

[Insert Image: UN on Pylos shipwreck: “It is clear that the disaster is the product of political decisions”]Title: UN Expert Condemns Greek Authorities for Deadly Shipwreck, Calls for Safe Routes

Date: [Insert Date]

In a scathing critique of the Greek authorities, the UN special expert for human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has condemned their handling of the deadly shipwreck off Pylos, which claimed the lives of hundreds of refugees. Lawlor argues that the tragedy could have been avoided and blames political decisions for the disaster.

According to Lawlor’s article in Social Europe, investigative journalists and human rights defenders are still uncovering the full details of what happened. However, she asserts that it is already clear that Greek authorities were alerted to the boat’s danger by the activist group Alarm Phone hours before it capsized. The Hellenic Coast Guard, in contact with the ship’s passengers, had an obligation under international law to intervene due to the overcrowding and unseaworthiness of the vessel.

Lawlor emphasizes that the shipwreck is not an isolated incident but a result of political decisions. She argues that Greece and the European Union (EU), including the border and coast guard agency Frontex, have wrongly blamed smugglers for such tragedies. Lawlor asserts that people embark on extremely dangerous routes to reach the EU because there are no safe, legal, and accessible alternatives. She states that only states can open these routes and points out that they choose not to.

Lawlor further highlights the EU’s failure to address the issue, stating that the bloc and its member states are willing to accept the deaths of people at their borders. She references a previous shipwreck in 2013 off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy, where at least 400 people lost their lives. Lawlor notes that despite the tragedy, the EU’s search and rescue capacity has been reduced, and solidarity efforts have been suppressed.

Lawlor also criticizes the lack of accountability for these human rights violations. While smugglers are prosecuted, there is no justice for the massive loss of life. She argues that these incidents, along with systematic pushbacks, are not accidents but crimes committed with impunity.

The UN rapporteur highlights the crucial role of human rights defenders who have been taking action in solidarity with migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. She praises their work in saving lives and protecting human dignity but laments that they face suppression, obstruction, and criminalization by states.

Lawlor attributes this situation to the EU’s approach to immigration and international protection, which prioritizes security and control over human rights considerations.

The tragic shipwreck off Pylos serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for safe and legal routes for those fleeing conflict, climate change, and seeking a better life. The UN expert’s condemnation of the Greek authorities and call for action from states and the EU underscores the importance of addressing this humanitarian crisis and ensuring the protection of human rights.

How does Lawlor argue that blaming smugglers for tragedies ignores the responsibility of governments to establish safe and legal pathways for migrants and refugees?

Ntex, have consistently blamed smugglers for such tragedies, ignoring their own responsibilities in creating safe and legal pathways for migrants and refugees. Lawlor asserts that people embark on dangerous routes because there are no alternatives in place.

Lawlor also criticizes the EU’s approach to immigration and international protection, stating that it prioritizes security and control over human rights. She highlights the EU’s reduced search and rescue capacity and the suppression of solidarity efforts, as well as the lack of accountability for human rights violations at Europe’s borders.

Furthermore, Lawlor argues that the recent agreement on the new EU asylum regulation, if passed into law, would only consolidate problematic aspects of the current system and further prevent people from seeking refuge in the bloc. She calls for a change in approach and urges states to prioritize human rights and provide safe and legal routes for migrants and refugees.

The tragic shipwreck off Pylos serves as a devastating reminder of the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life and to protect the rights and dignity of those seeking refuge. Lawlor’s condemnation of the Greek authorities and the EU’s immigration policies highlights the critical importance of addressing this humanitarian crisis with compassion and respect for human rights.