WUNRN
European Women's Lobby - EWL
Read the full Joint Statement.
EWL & PARTNERS CALL ON EU MEMBER STATES & EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO SAFEGUARD FAMILY LIFE OF MIGRANTS & REFUGEES
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All EU Member States can improve
the implementation of their family reunification practices and thus guarantee
everybody the right to a family life. According to the Family Reunification
Directive, all Member States are obliged to guarantee family reunion which
signifies ensuring that there are no legal or practical obstacles to this
practice.
In 1993, 15 May was made the official
International Day of families by the UN General Assembly. This day reflects the
importance of families and their rights. It is an opportunity to promote
awareness of issues relating to family rights. For this reason, today the EWL
together with 19 other NGOs calls for the realisation of the EU Directive
concerning family reunification as well as an evaluation of this issue by the
European Commission. The European Commission published a report in 2008
demonstrating that several states do not live up to the EU directive concerning
family reunification, a new updated report is now needed.