Human Rights Watch accuses Macedonian police of mistreating migrants

Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international non-governmental organization conducting research and advocacy on human rights, has accused the Macedonian police of beating and insulting refugees and migrants from countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

In a report titled "’As Though We Are Not Human Beings’: Police Brutality against Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Macedonia," HRW has noted incidence of physical and verbal abuse at the hands of Macedonian officials at the border with Greece, ill-treatment by police guards in the Gazi Baba detention center between June 2014 and July 2015, and the failure of the authorities to investigate or hold those responsible to account.

In addition, HRW also documented detention of migrants and asylum seekers in inhuman and degrading conditions in Gazi Baba.

The report is based on the interview conducted with 64 asylum seekers and migrants, including seven children, in various locations in Serbia and Macedonia.

Many of those interviewed, including three children, had experienced abuse at the hands of Macedonian police, particularly at the border with Greece and in Gazi Baba.

According to the report, Macedonian authorities detained people to ensure their availability to testify in criminal proceedings against people suspected of migrant smuggling.

Macedonian authorities have initiated disciplinary proceedings against five Gazi Baba police guards and suspended one person.

However, no specific investigation or disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against individual border police.

Recently, Amnesty International published new guidelines on use of force by police globally, which is aimed at ensuring that the service gives priority to the respect and protection of life and physical integrity.

The guidelines was published in the wake of the frequent news of police use of force and firearms globally, including the killings by police in Brazil, police shootings in the USA resulting in the death of unarmed people and heavy-handed police operations with lethal force in Bangladesh.

Macedonia, Greece and Serbia are the major transit countries along the Western Balkans migration route to the European Union resulting in huge number of refugees and migrants transiting these countries.