In December 2020, amidst the challenges of the second lockdown and limited access to COVID-19 vaccines, we launched the first edition of the Black Book of Pushbacks at an online event hosted by the Left in the European Parliament. Despite the global crisis and the marginalized plight of people-on-the-move, we committed to publishing a new edition annually until impunity ends.

During the lockdowns, the withdrawal of major NGOs from border areas left many without basic necessities. People-on-the-move, trapped in overcrowded camps or squalid conditions, faced increasing desperation and brutality. With fewer witnesses, border guards in multiple countries intensified their violent deterrence tactics.

Undeterred by recommendations to leave, our members provided crucial support and documentation under new safety regulations. We witnessed and reported on escalating violence and engaged with the European Court of Human Rights to seek protection for vulnerable groups, despite severe reprisals from some governments.

In 2022, as we prepared to release updated editions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a massive refugee crisis, highlighting stark contrasts in the EU’s response. While Ukrainian refugees received unprecedented support, others faced continued rejection and violence. This disparity was most evident in Poland, which simultaneously welcomed Ukrainians and enacted a state of emergency at its Belarus border, leading to numerous deaths. The renewed activity on the Balkan Route saw EU plans focusing on further limiting movement, echoing the traumatic closure of the humanitarian corridor in 2016.

As we navigate the uncertain future at the end of 2022, we remain committed to our mission. We will continue publishing the Black Book of Pushbacks, holding perpetrators accountable, and advocating for solidarity with all people-on-the-move, regardless of nationality.

Introduction to the Black Book of Pushbacks, 2nd edition, is a document we put together to offer an overview of the four volumes we have compiled. The Black Book contains over 3,000 pages with testimonies impacting more than 25,000 people on the move. All of them experienced violence at EU borders and were illegally pushed back.

Download INTRO here

The Black Book can be read also on the website of the Left in the European Parliament: Black Book of Pushbacks. Volumes I-IV. 2nd Edition.

Photos from the Left event can be seen below and more can be found on their website.