Freedom of movement at the French British border
Groups present at the French British border, including Utopia 56 and Auberge des migrants, are joining this campaign.
Human rights violations and deaths at the French British border have been relentless for over 30 years.
The ineffectiveness of the policy to combat trafficking networks and illegal crossings has only led to the constant escalation of militarization at the border and the criminalization of all those stranded there.
The number of people who manage to reach the UK by sea or by truck is not decreasing – on the contrary. Police repressions only multiply the number of attempts and therefore the number of fatal risks taken by those forced to use these dangerous routes.
However, this policy continues to injure, mutilate and kill. The number of deaths is constantly rising, proof that the measures implemented along the coast are not only ineffective, but also deadly.
Since January 1st 2024, at least 116 people have died at the French British border.
In Calais, as in the Dunkirk area, access to fundamental rights is severely restricted, if not non-existent. The declared policy of “zero settlement” results in repeated police harassment and the confiscation of material distributed by independent associations, pushing people to fight for their lives.
This policy of deterrence is part of a wider context of externalization of borders and the refusal to welcome people seeking a better life. Fortress Europe makes migration routes dangerous and violent.
That’s the reason why we’re joining the f.Lotta movement, to bear witness to the reality unfolding at various European borders, whether that being the French British border or the central Mediterranean.
Every day, associations, collectives, citizens and activists are witnessing a state of humanitarian emergency caused by political choices at the French British border.
Because alternatives exist to put an end to this precariousness, violence and tragedy, we are demanding:
- The freedom to choose the country in which to apply for asylum, which until now has been denied by the Dublin Regulation and the European Pact on Migration and Asylum.
- Safe passage to the UK for everyone, by putting an end to the border externalization policy.
- The introduction of dignified reception conditions, replacing the current “zero settlement policy”.
- Replacing police action as the sole response to dangerous crossings with increased rescue resources at sea and on land.
