December 13, 2012

Irregular migration in Greece must be addressed by European Union – UN expert



A mother and her children at a detention centre in Greece. Photo: UNHCR/J.Björgvinsson

3 December 2012 – A United Nations independent expert today called on Greece to boost measures to protect the rights of migrants, while stressing that it is also the European Union’s (EU) responsibility to address the plight of a growing number of irregular migrants trapped in the Mediterranean country on their way to European destinations.

“As the large number of irregular migrants stuck in Greece is mainly a result of EU policies and practices, there is a strong need for solidarity and responsibility-sharing within the EU in order to ensure full respect of the human rights of all these migrants,” the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, said at the end of a nine-day visit to Greece.