Borderline-europe

borderline-europe - human rights without borders e. V. is a non-governmental organisation which, through independent investigations and public relations work, advocates the protection of human rights, especially at the EU's external borders. It is based in Berlin and has two branches, on the islands of Sicily and Lesbos. The organisation was founded in 2007 by Judith Gleitze, Harald Glöde, Stefan Schmidt and Elias Bierdel.[1][2] In 2012 borderline-europe was awarded the Aachen Peace Prize. Its founding was at least partly a response to the 2004 case of the German rescue ship ‘Cap Anamur’ in which, after the rescue of 37 men in distress at sea, the ship's captain, Stefan Schmidt, and the organisation's chairman, Elias Bierdel were arrested and held in Italy before being acquitted, 5 years later, of aiding and abetting irregular entry.[3]

Tasks

The organisation mainly focuses on research at the External border of the European Union and on reporting on the situation on the ground. The main concern of the organisation is to strengthen a critical public for the consequences of the European policy of isolation. With their work they also oppose the widespread criminalisation of people who help refugees and migrants in need and who save lives.[4]

The organisation :

  • campaigns for legal escape routes
  • campaigns against a defense by military means by Frontex against migrants
  • creates research in the border regions, so-called "border monitoring"[5]
  • writes documentation / publications on the topic[6]
  • supports initiatives for humanitarian aid at the borders
  • arranges contact persons for the press and organisers
  • works on networking the European NGOs in the field of displacement and migration[7]
  • organises national and transnational projects, series of events and conferences

Projects

Berlin office

The Berlin office supports various projects, including events against right-wing populism, participation in refugee campaigns, research projects, and cooperation with aid projects such as Alarm-Phone-Initiative, Sea-Watch and Jugend Rettet.

Branch office in Sicily

In Palermo the organisation monitors and observes conditions of refugees arriving into transit camps and when accessing the asylum procedure.

Branch office on Lesbos

A first point of contact for refugees was set up in cooperation with the local organisation "Lesvos Solidarity". Language courses, legal advice, educational offers for children and adults, psychosocial support and leisure events are to be organised here - for both refugees and the local population.[8]

Awards

In 2012 the association received the Aachen Peace Prize.[9]

References
  1. Gerrit Wustmann: Die Toten, die niemand sehen will (tr. "The dead that nobody wants to see"), 29 July 2007 Telepolis, www.heise.de, accessed 25 May 2021
  2. Europas Grenze häufig tödlich (tr. "Europe's border is often fatal") 20. June 2007 taz.de, accessed 25 May 2021
  3. borderline-europe: The Case of Cap Anamur SAROBMED sarobmed.org, accessed 25 May 2021
  4. Greece: Migrant accused of smuggling sentenced to 146 years in prison 4 May 2021 www.infomigrants.net, accessed 25 May 2021
  5. EU AD HOC RELOCATION eu-relocation-watch.info, accessed 26 May 2021
  6. NGOs Resume Rescues amid Mounting Death Toll and Continued Pull-Backs 19 June 2020 www.ecre.org, accessed 26 May 2021
  7. Alongside Amnesty International - 44 NGOs sign up in support 1 November 2016 www.statewatch.org, accessed 26 May 2021
  8. 3W map of NGOs and services in Lesvos "... List of names on 12.07.18 - The names include: ... Borderline Europe, ..." 12.07.18 www.opoiesis.com, accessed 26 May 2021
  9. Preisträger 2012 Alejandro Cerezo Contreras und Borderline Europe e.V. (tr. "Award winner 2012 Alejandro Cerezo Contreras and Borderline Europe e.V.") (archived copy from www.aachener-friedenspreis.de) accessed 25 May 2021
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