Geneva, February 28, 2023
The Geneva Center for Democracy and Human Rights (GCDHR), a Geneva-based NGO that promotes democracy and respect for human rights, expresses its deep concern over racist and hateful statements made by Tunisian President Kais Saied towards sub-Saharan African migrants.
The GCDHR informs the international public that it has filed three complaints with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Ms. Ashwini K.P., United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The organization has also filed complaints with the European Union Secretariat-General, based on Article 2 of the Association Agreement between Tunisia and the EU, which makes respect for human rights an imperative framework for the parties.
The GCDHR requests an examination of the conditions of the bilateral agreements between Tunisia and EU members in the implementation of the outsourcing of European borders, which has led to an increase in the number of immigrants in Tunisia in inhumane and unacceptable conditions.
In the three complaints filed, the GCDHR has expressed that it is concerned about the waves of massive arrests and arbitrary assaults targeting sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, as well as the daily reported human rights violations ranging from inhuman and degrading treatment to arbitrary detention, confiscation of phones, and denial of access to medical care. These practices violate Tunisia’s obligations regarding human rights and protection of migrants, as well as international standards in this regard.
It should be noted that during a meeting of the National Security Council on February 21, 2023, the Tunisian President accused sub-Saharan migrants of wanting to “change the demographic composition of Tunisia” and called for a rapid end to this immigration. These remarks have been condemned by the UN, the African Union, and Tunisian and international civil society as unacceptable and racist. Instead of apologizing for his racist statements, the Tunisian President has justified them the next day. The Tunisian diplomacy has done the same, to the greatest surprise of the international public opinion.
The GCDHR calls on the Tunisian government and its European partners, particularly France and Italy, to fully respect their obligations regarding human rights and to immediately end discriminatory practices against sub-Saharan migrants at the EU border. It also calls on the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Special Rapporteur on racism, and the European Union to take urgent measures to investigate human rights violations in Tunisia and to ensure that the perpetrators of these violations are held accountable.
