by Border Violence Monitoring Network
To coincide with International Migrants Day on 18th December the Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN) have released a landmark publication on illegal border pushbacks. The ‘Black Book of Pushbacks’ brings together a wealth of evidence on these violations, analysing in detail the way that these brutal acts have become systematised at the external border and renewing calls to end impunity for perpetrating EU authorities.
CONTENTS OF THE ‘BLACK BOOK’
Pushbacks are illegal under international law, but member state authorities have long ignored such breaches of human rights which are contrary to the EU’s founding principles and international obligations. This ‘Black Book’ only includes incidents that have been directly recorded by BVMN; the real number of victims is likely to be much higher. The book covers:
- A total of 892 group testimonies detailing the experiences of 12,654 people.
- The violence many endured in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary along the so-called ‘Balkan route’ including maps, data, photos and other key information.
- The types of suffering and violence perpetrated by border agents, member state police forces, soldiers – even guard dogs.
- Documented incidents that could be clearly described as sadistic, merciless, humiliating and degrading treatment.
You can read the Black Book in full by downloading Volume I and Volume II here: