June 20th - World Refugee Day
On the occasion of the June 20th - World Refugee Day, we want to point out on the difficult situation for refugees / migrants around the world. We are witnesses of the open war of the European governments against refugees / migrants.
Militarization of borders, fences and barbed wire, terror of the police against refugees / migrants, illegal deportations, abandoning the people in danger who are trying to reach European coasts, which turned the Mediterranean into a mass grave with thousands of victims, all these are the consequences of the catastrophic policies of European countries.
In times of globalization, there are no borders for goods and capital, but are being put up for people, especially those who are deprived of their basic rights and threatened. People around the globe are threatened by weapons, dictatorships, brutal exploitation, devastated economies and global pollution, leading to natural disasters and starvation.
The international community is most responsible for this situation, because of its greed and material interests, it fueling the wars by exporting arms in conflict zones and out of their selfish and particular aims does not want to engage in ending the wars.
Refugees / migrants are the direct victims of such bad policies, and their acceptance is a moral obligation for all those countries in which they seek salvation.
The authorities of Serbia with their actions fit into this shameful chapter of history. Serbian authorities use refugees as a source of income. In addition to the profit earned by Serbian companies by the disgraceful sale of weapons to conflict parties, we especially emphasize that Serbia has received about 100 million euros from the European Union since October 2015 to help refugees / migrants. By inspecting the data on the funds obtained and the situation in the camps and what refugees / migrants are getting, it is obvious that a large part of these funds has been ended in the pockets of corrupt government officials and their close associates, which is just another proof of deep and systemic corruption in Serbia.
Currently, there are over 3,000 refugees / migrants in camps in Serbia, mostly the families with children, who have been in camps for 2 years. It is a shame that apart from a few exceptions, none of these people has had the opportunity to integrate and live a normal life. Government officials often argue that refugees / migrants do not want to stay in Serbia, which is not true, and it is especially shameful that such "arguments" are coming from those who instead of helping, in fact, working to discourage and prevent refugees / migrants from using their rights.
Camps were and are temporary solution, after two years of staying in them, they become "prisons" for people. We demand from the authorities of Serbia to start with the integration of refugees / migrants, because in addition to the law, it is also a moral obligation.
The question of refugees / migrants is one of the main frontlines in the conflict with the rising neo-fascism throughout Europe. By expressing solidarity with refugees / migrants, we contribute to this international struggle. The outcome of this struggle will decide in what kind of societies we will live.
We urge the citizens to show solidarity with the refugees / migrants and once again say that fascism has no place in the present and in the future!
Solidarity is our strength!
Women in Black
