Human Rights Know No Borders - rally, 20 May 2014

On 20 May 2014 an unaffiliated group met at Parliament Square to remember all those who have died trying to seek protection in Europe and to demand change to the European Union's current asylum system. This video documents the rally, which was held in solidarity with one in Vienna at the same time. Further background info: The Geneva Refugee Convention stipulates that all persons who are forced to flee their countries due to persecution must be granted protection by the states in which they seek refuge. The reality of the United Kingdom and European asylum policy does not reflect this obligation due to: an increasingly restrictive migration policy, the intensified protection of borders and the increased mandate of FRONTEX, the European Border Agency. Since 2000 the reinforcement of "Fortress Europe" has cost at least 23,000 people their lives. In reality, the actual figures are estimated to be much higher. The near daily deaths on Europe's external borders arouse short-term political and media attention but the necessary political action remains to be seen. Of those who do make it across the borders, many are detained in appalling conditions where difficulties with communication make it all the more challenging to prepare their asylum case. Others are detained further along in the asylum process and can remain locked up for years. http://www.demotix.com/news/4798167/h...   / 1430500077205991     / menschenrechtegrenzenlos   http://www.menschenrechte-grenzenlos.eu/