Article written by Seamus Jeffreson, CONCORD Director.

At the end of April, CONCORD was invited to discuss the recently highlighted issue of sexual misconduct in humanitarian work in the course of a joint workshop with the European Parliament’s DEVE committee. The piece below addresses the issue, and lists the different actions points for EU NGOs. It is drawn from my speaking points and is the product of collaboration and input from many CONCORD members and national platforms across the EU. Thanks to all these colleagues for their input.

INTRODUCTION

Investing in the security of our partner countries is in the EU’s and our partners’ interests. We all face common challenges of terrorism, conflicts and extremism.” - Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, July 2016

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EU leaders must live up to their commitments to European values in responding to migration and stop copying xenophobic populist recipes, more than 160 NGOs said today in a joint statement. The organizations are calling for strong leadership to uphold the rights and values that have been the founding principles of the European Union for 60 years.

Brussels, 22 February 2017

Dear European leaders,

We, the undersigned non-governmental organisations, are deeply concerned with the direction of the EU-Libya policy as outlined in the Commission Communication on the Central Mediterranean (25.01.17) and reaffirmed in the conclusions of the Malta Summit (03.02.17) and the Council Conclusions (06.02.17), aiming to stop migratory movements through Libya.