Human Rights Watch Highlights Concerns Over European Union's Policies in 2023
In its latest World Report 2024, Human Rights Watch sheds light on the European Union's human rights practices in 2023, expressing deep-seated worries about the Union's commitment to translating its commitments into tangible actions.
The report points out that the EU's migration policies have not only failed to uphold human rights but have also contributed to a myriad of issues, including deaths, torture, and abuse. The organization criticizes EU member states, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, and Latvia, for engaging in unlawful pushbacks at external borders.
One of the major concerns raised by Human Rights Watch is the EU's approach to boat migration, which has led to the death of over 2,500 people at sea. The report emphasizes the deadly consequences of the EU's deterrence measures and alliances with potentially abusive countries.
The EU's failure to address attacks on marginalized communities is another key point of criticism. Human Rights Watch calls out member states for structural discrimination and highlights concerns about the shrinking civil society space in certain EU countries.
The report singles out Hungary and Poland for facing scrutiny under article 7 of the Treaty on European Union due to their governments' disregard for EU values. Despite pressure, EU member states have refrained from taking decisive action, raising questions about the Union's commitment to democratic freedoms.
Antisemitism and Islamophobia increased in Europe following the Hamas-led attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. However, Human Rights Watch points out that EU member states' reactions were inadequate, with some even imposing discriminatory measures towards people identified or perceived as Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim.
The organization criticizes the EU's increasingly transactional diplomacy, citing the deal with Tunisia as an example. The EU's focus on migration cooperation, despite the risks to refugees and asylum seekers, is seen as a compromise of its human rights principles for short-term gains.
The report calls on the European Union to prioritize human rights in practice rather than just on paper. The organization urges the EU to address the highlighted issues, including migration policies, attacks on marginalized communities, declining democratic freedoms, and its stance on conflicts like Gaza and Israel, to ensure a more rights-centric approach in the future.
