OHCHR / GREECE MIGRANTS DEFENDERS
13-Jan-2023
00:01:58
A spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office commented the long-awaited trial of human rights defenders in Greece, “Trials like this are deeply concerning because they criminalize life-saving work and set a dangerous precedent.” UNTV CH
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STORY: OHCHR / GREECE MIGRANTS DEFENDERS
TRT: 01:58
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 13 JANUARY 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
TRT: 01:58
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 13 JANUARY 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot, entrance of Palais des Nations
2. Wide Shot, briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“Trials like this are deeply concerning because they criminalize life-saving work and set a dangerous precedent. Indeed, there has already been a chilling effect, with human rights defenders and humanitarian organisations forced to halt their human rights work in Greece and other EU countries.”
4. Med shot, journalists listening
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“We reiterate our call for charges against the 24 to be dismissed. The charges are in connection with their actions in rescuing migrants at sea and include several alleged misdemeanours related to the facilitation of migrant smuggling.”
6. Close up, journalists in briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“Saving lives and providing humanitarian assistance should never be criminalized or prosecuted. Such actions are, quite simply, a humanitarian and human rights imperative.”
8. Close up, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“The UN Human Rights Office also has long-standing concerns that anti-smuggling legislation in a number of European countries is being used to criminalize both migrants and those who assist them.”
10. Med shot, briefing room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“Despite the critical need for life-saving assistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, where nearly 500 migrants have died or gone missing since 2021 according to the International Organization for Migration, there are currently no civil search and rescue organizations operating in Greece.”
12. Med shot, briefing room
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“We note that in proceedings this morning in Mytilini on Lesvos, where the trial is taking place, that the prosecution has recommended the annulment of some of the charges. We would welcome such developments but reiterate our call for all charges against all defendants to be dropped.”
14. Wide shot, briefing room
2. Wide Shot, briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“Trials like this are deeply concerning because they criminalize life-saving work and set a dangerous precedent. Indeed, there has already been a chilling effect, with human rights defenders and humanitarian organisations forced to halt their human rights work in Greece and other EU countries.”
4. Med shot, journalists listening
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“We reiterate our call for charges against the 24 to be dismissed. The charges are in connection with their actions in rescuing migrants at sea and include several alleged misdemeanours related to the facilitation of migrant smuggling.”
6. Close up, journalists in briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“Saving lives and providing humanitarian assistance should never be criminalized or prosecuted. Such actions are, quite simply, a humanitarian and human rights imperative.”
8. Close up, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“The UN Human Rights Office also has long-standing concerns that anti-smuggling legislation in a number of European countries is being used to criminalize both migrants and those who assist them.”
10. Med shot, briefing room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“Despite the critical need for life-saving assistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, where nearly 500 migrants have died or gone missing since 2021 according to the International Organization for Migration, there are currently no civil search and rescue organizations operating in Greece.”
12. Med shot, briefing room
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“We note that in proceedings this morning in Mytilini on Lesvos, where the trial is taking place, that the prosecution has recommended the annulment of some of the charges. We would welcome such developments but reiterate our call for all charges against all defendants to be dropped.”
14. Wide shot, briefing room
STORYLINE
A Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) commented the long-awaited trial of human rights defenders in Greece, “Trials like this are deeply concerning because they criminalize life-saving work and set a dangerous precedent.” UNTV CH
At the bi-weekly press briefing on today (Jan 13), Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, made the following comments about the long-awaited trial of human rights defenders in Greece which began this week in Lesvos. The 24 defendants are being prosecuted for their role in helping to rescue migrants in distress at sea.
“Trials like this are deeply concerning because they criminalize life-saving work and set a dangerous precedent. Indeed, there has already been a chilling effect, with human rights defenders and humanitarian organisations forced to halt their human rights work in Greece and other EU countries,” said Throssell.
She also said, “We reiterate our call for charges against the 24 to be dismissed. The charges are in connection with their actions in rescuing migrants at sea and include several alleged misdemeanours related to the facilitation of migrant smuggling.”
Those facing trial were all members of, or volunteers with, a Greek NGO called Emergency Response Centre International or ERCI, which helped more than 1,000 people to reach safety, and provided survivors with medical and other assistance on the Greek island of Lesvos from 2016 to 2018.
Since then, ERCI has been compelled to close its operations, while the defendants have been facing the prospect of going on trial for more than four years.
“Saving lives and providing humanitarian assistance should never be criminalized or prosecuted. Such actions are, quite simply, a humanitarian and human rights imperative,” she said.
“The UN Human Rights Office also has long-standing concerns that anti-smuggling legislation in a number of European countries is being used to criminalize both migrants and those who assist them,” she said.
Addressing migrant smuggling ultimately relies on enhancing safe pathways for regular migration.
“Despite the critical need for life-saving assistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, where nearly 500 migrants have died or gone missing since 2021 according to the International Organization for Migration, there are currently no civil search and rescue organizations operating in Greece,” Throssell said.
“We note that in proceedings this morning in Mytilini on Lesvos, where the trial is taking place, that the prosecution has recommended the annulment of some of the charges We would welcome such developments but reiterate our call for all charges against all defendants to be dropped,” she said.
At the bi-weekly press briefing on today (Jan 13), Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, made the following comments about the long-awaited trial of human rights defenders in Greece which began this week in Lesvos. The 24 defendants are being prosecuted for their role in helping to rescue migrants in distress at sea.
“Trials like this are deeply concerning because they criminalize life-saving work and set a dangerous precedent. Indeed, there has already been a chilling effect, with human rights defenders and humanitarian organisations forced to halt their human rights work in Greece and other EU countries,” said Throssell.
She also said, “We reiterate our call for charges against the 24 to be dismissed. The charges are in connection with their actions in rescuing migrants at sea and include several alleged misdemeanours related to the facilitation of migrant smuggling.”
Those facing trial were all members of, or volunteers with, a Greek NGO called Emergency Response Centre International or ERCI, which helped more than 1,000 people to reach safety, and provided survivors with medical and other assistance on the Greek island of Lesvos from 2016 to 2018.
Since then, ERCI has been compelled to close its operations, while the defendants have been facing the prospect of going on trial for more than four years.
“Saving lives and providing humanitarian assistance should never be criminalized or prosecuted. Such actions are, quite simply, a humanitarian and human rights imperative,” she said.
“The UN Human Rights Office also has long-standing concerns that anti-smuggling legislation in a number of European countries is being used to criminalize both migrants and those who assist them,” she said.
Addressing migrant smuggling ultimately relies on enhancing safe pathways for regular migration.
“Despite the critical need for life-saving assistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, where nearly 500 migrants have died or gone missing since 2021 according to the International Organization for Migration, there are currently no civil search and rescue organizations operating in Greece,” Throssell said.
“We note that in proceedings this morning in Mytilini on Lesvos, where the trial is taking place, that the prosecution has recommended the annulment of some of the charges We would welcome such developments but reiterate our call for all charges against all defendants to be dropped,” she said.
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