Greece is on the European Union frontline, and needs closer co-operation with the EU to protect the union's external borders. But rather than co-operation based on high standards and mutual respect, it appears that other EU member states are all too willing to look the other way as Greece performs their dirty work of keeping migrants out.
Hundreds of unaccompanied children in Greece are fleeing from war-torn countries in a desperate search for safety, they end up in a daily struggle for survival. They work in dangerous jobs, live in squalid and unsafe places, or simply beg and sleep in parks or cardboard shacks. Worse, Greek police officials often arrest and ill-treat these children, and the chances that Greece will recognise them as refugees are close to zero.
Refugees who survive the Somali militias and Kenyan police face additional problems when they go to one of three overcrowded and under-serviced refugee camps near the Kenyan town of Dadaab.
The first day of school is a special day in the lives of children, but yesterday tens of thousands of kids in Jordan spent it at home. They are foreigners — mostly Iraqis — whom the government has not allowed to enrol because they lack residence permits.
Millions of Asian women working overseas are feeding their families, and boosting the economies of their countries, by remitting billions of dollars home. For their pains, all too often they are subjected to forced confinement, poor working conditions and in some cases, severe physical and sexual abuse.
Malaysia´s first new prime minister in more than 20 years, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, faces scores of challenges after succeeding Mahathir Mohammed on Friday. But none will be greater than those necessary to transform Malaysia from an authoritarian regime into a nation that respects human rights and operates under the rule of law. A critical first step would be to protect those members of society whose rights have consistently been under attack: migrant workers and those who defend their rights.
Australia has done a lot for the human rights cause over the years, including helping to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and bring the commission into being. But given its deteriorating record on human rights and its hostile attitude to international scrutiny, Australia might well prove to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. You only need to look at Australia's performance during the past year on key human rights issues.
In February 2002, the European Commission unveiled its Proposal for a Council Directive “on the short-term residence permit issued to victims of action to facilitate illegal immigration or trafficking in human beings who cooperate with the competent authorities.” While some provisions are to be welcomed, the proposed directive is deficient in that it addresses the problem of human trafficking solely as an element of efforts to combat illegal immigration, with an emphasis on law enforcement measures, but fails to recognize the need to ensure victim protection for all trafficking victims.
Since arriving in the United States, 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez has been showered with attention, toys and trips to Disney World and Universal Studios. But for thousands of other children who, like Elian, arrive in the United States without their parents, the reception they receive is anything but warm.
On June 12, the UN Human Rights Council, consisting of 47 member states of the UN, concluded the first comprehensive human rights review of Jordan.
Greece is on the European Union frontline, and needs closer co-operation with the EU to protect the union's external borders. But rather than co-operation based on high standards and mutual respect, it appears that other EU member states are all too willing to look the other way as Greece performs their dirty work of keeping migrants out.
Hundreds of unaccompanied children in Greece are fleeing from war-torn countries in a desperate search for safety, they end up in a daily struggle for survival. They work in dangerous jobs, live in squalid and unsafe places, or simply beg and sleep in parks or cardboard shacks. Worse, Greek police officials often arrest and ill-treat these children, and the chances that Greece will recognise them as refugees are close to zero.
Refugees who survive the Somali militias and Kenyan police face additional problems when they go to one of three overcrowded and under-serviced refugee camps near the Kenyan town of Dadaab.
The first day of school is a special day in the lives of children, but yesterday tens of thousands of kids in Jordan spent it at home. They are foreigners — mostly Iraqis — whom the government has not allowed to enrol because they lack residence permits.
Millions of Asian women working overseas are feeding their families, and boosting the economies of their countries, by remitting billions of dollars home. For their pains, all too often they are subjected to forced confinement, poor working conditions and in some cases, severe physical and sexual abuse.
Malaysia´s first new prime minister in more than 20 years, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, faces scores of challenges after succeeding Mahathir Mohammed on Friday. But none will be greater than those necessary to transform Malaysia from an authoritarian regime into a nation that respects human rights and operates under the rule of law. A critical first step would be to protect those members of society whose rights have consistently been under attack: migrant workers and those who defend their rights.
Australia has done a lot for the human rights cause over the years, including helping to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and bring the commission into being. But given its deteriorating record on human rights and its hostile attitude to international scrutiny, Australia might well prove to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. You only need to look at Australia's performance during the past year on key human rights issues.
In February 2002, the European Commission unveiled its Proposal for a Council Directive “on the short-term residence permit issued to victims of action to facilitate illegal immigration or trafficking in human beings who cooperate with the competent authorities.” While some provisions are to be welcomed, the proposed directive is deficient in that it addresses the problem of human trafficking solely as an element of efforts to combat illegal immigration, with an emphasis on law enforcement measures, but fails to recognize the need to ensure victim protection for all trafficking victims.
Since arriving in the United States, 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez has been showered with attention, toys and trips to Disney World and Universal Studios. But for thousands of other children who, like Elian, arrive in the United States without their parents, the reception they receive is anything but warm.