This report is Caritas Europa’s studied response to the tragedy hundreds of thousands of women, men and children face when seeking refuge in Europe. People escaping war, repression and violation of human rights turn to Europe in the hope of finding a safe haven, but instead meet with denial of protection and rejection of solidarity.
With this report, Caritas Europa wants to contribute to this political debate and propose solutions to the ongoing tragedy of migration. It is based on the experiences of Caritas organisations across Europe working to secure protection and human rights of migrants and refugees. The stories and testimonies of those who make it to Europe demonstrate the urgency of the situation.
Along with reviewing the situation of migration in Europe, the report also analyses the root causes of migration to Europe. It identifies five main areas where law and policy may hamper migrants from accessing international protection or ensuring human rights. These include: (1) access to protection, humanitarian visas and resettlement; (2) the non-refoulement principle; (3) family reunification; (4) labour migration and mobility; and (5) irregular migration