Demonstration for the right to seek asylum
Invitation: Demonstration for the right to seek asylum. Time: Thursday 23.11. from 17 to 19
Place: March from Rautatientori to Senaatintori. This event is a reminder that the right to seek asylum, the right to live and the right to leave the state’s territory are human rights.
On the 18th of November, Finland closed four border crossing points on the eastern border and concentrated the application for international protection on the eastern border at the border crossing points of Salla and Vartius. These decisions undermine the possibility for people seeking protection to apply for asylum.
At the heart of refugee law is the principle that asylum seekers should not be punished for the way they enter the country. The right to seek asylum is a human right for everyone and once an asylum application has been submitted, the asylum seeker is regularly present in the country. A person’s ability to apply for international protection cannot depend on whether there is an attempt to political influence from an outside party.
Finland is not the first country in Europe to respond to attempts to influence by preventing people from crossing borders. Russian attempts to influence are possible because European refugee and migration policy is based on borders, control and racism. The authorities of many EU countries have been guilty of illegal pushbacks, for which they have also been convicted in various courts. As a result of these control policies, thousands of people trying to reach Europe die every year.
The government has also discussed closing the entire eastern border and centralizing asylum applications at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. In light of these decisions, it is difficult to see how Finland will fulfil its obligation to safeguard everyone’s right to seek asylum in accordance with human rights conventions and Finnish law.
The closure of border crossings also has a significant impact on private and family life, especially for people with family in Russia.
We demand,
- that Finland receives and examines asylum applications in a fair asylum process, regardless of where the applicants come from or how they arrived at the border.
- that asylum applications are not centralized to the point where it is effectively impossible to submit applications.
- that border decisions are subject to human rights impact assessments and are proportionate to the harm they cause.
The event is organized by:
Free Movement network and Amnesty International Finland
We hope that participants will bring portable lights and protest signs in accordance with the demands.
