We are proud to bring about real change through concrete steps to bring justice to victims of human rights violations in
collaboration with other organizations around the world. After decades of armed conflicts and wars, the Middle East and
North Africa have become a hub for human rights violations, with most perpetrators enjoying impunity. People have lost
faith in the ability of human rights defenders to help them. Nonetheless, change is happening at the hands of hundreds
of thousands of these courageous human rights defenders. In the words of Professor Richard Falk, chair of the Euro-Med
Monitor Board of Trustees: “It is important to continue the struggle despite frustrations and disappointment based on an
ultimate faith in the triumph of justice”. Here are some of our accomplishments:
Jordan
On December 29, the State Security Court in Jordan decided to release journalist Jamal Haddad on bail despite the fact
that he was detained without a legal basis. Haddad was detained at Marka Prison after a court directed a list of charges
against him following publishing a newspaper article stating that some officials received the COVID19 vaccine. He
expressed his criticism of the contradictions in official statements regarding the vaccine and called on the government
to reveal the truth.
Euro-Med Monitor called on the Jordanian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Jamal Haddad
and to put an end to practices that violate the rights and freedoms of individuals and entities. In its statement,
Euro-Med Monitor stressed the need for Jordan to abide by domestic laws, which stipulate that journalists must be
brought before civil courts.
Tunisia:
On December 24, the Tunisian government and the Judges Syndicate reached an agreement to end the strike the judges have
started since the middle of November, protesting against the unfair working conditions, especially during the COVID-19
pandemic. On December 23, Euro-Med Monitor addressed the Tunisian government to respond to the demands of judges, stop
stonewalling in resolving the crisis, and paving the way for justice.
Palestinian Authorities:
On December 17, the General Intelligence Service in Jericho decided to release Palestinian activist Suhaib Zaheda, after
arresting him for days for participating in protests against a government decision to close Hebron due to the COVID-19
outbreak.
Euro-Med Monitor had contacted the concerned parties in the PA on December 16, calling on them to immediately release
and review their policy in dealing with opponents. Euro-Med Monitor urged them to stop all violations that would
undermine rights guaranteed in relevant international laws and treaties.
Europe:
The EU's Foreign Affairs Council adopted new sanctions against human rights violators. The sanctions will enable the EU
to implement severe penalties against human rights violators. The sanctions include banning violators to enter EU
countries and freezing their assets.
For years, and during a series of lobbying and advocacy campaigns, Euro-Med Monitor, in partnership with international
organizations, had addressed the EU and its various bodies to take further measures and enact laws that would reduce
human rights violations.
In another context, Members of European Parliament approved a draft resolution calling on all other MEPs to adopt a
solidarity mechanism to guarantee the right to asylum in the EU and a fair distribution of refugees between member
states.
During a lobbying and advocacy campaign that extended for more than three years, Euro-Med Monitor worked with partner
international organizations to address MEPs and EU governments to accommodate more asylum seekers and distribute the
burden among the EU countries. Euro-Med Monitor also raised the issue of asylum seekers and the ongoing violations they
face in countries of asylum at the 45th session of the Human Rights Council in October 2020.
Bosnia and Herzegovina:
The EU asked the Bosnian government to take action to protect migrants and asylum seekers moving in large numbers in
northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina after the first snowfall covered their fragile tents and urged the authorities to
transfer migrants to the EU-funded facilities during winter and to open new ones.
On December 8, Euro-Med Monitor addressed the EU and the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to urgently open
additional shelters for migrants and asylum seekers in compliance with international law and to ensure that asylum
seekers receive adequate housing and treatment. Euro-Med Monitor also urged the EU to establish an urgent monitoring
mechanism in Croatia to ensure that the police deployed at the borders respect European laws and the basic rights of
migrants, including securing their access to asylum procedures.