At the request of a coalition of civil society organisations from the Maghreb, the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal held a public session on Human rights violations against migrants by the Maghreb States, the European Union and its member States, which took place in Palermo from 23 to 25 October 2025, in conjunction with the Sabir Festival organised by Arci.
The requesting organisations presented extensive and detailed documentation attesting to the systematic, severe and persistent violations of human and peoples’ rights against migrants. This evidence revealed a transnational regime of institutionalised violence, manifested through the increasing militarisation of borders and the systematic use of force, the proliferation of places of detention often operating outside of legal frameworks, the criminalisation of solidarity through legal proceedings or administrative pressure, and the institutional spread of racist and xenophobic discourse, which further fuels stigmatisation and repression.
In line with its mission, the PPT session examined the systemic nature of the violations, their various manifestations, and the root causes of their persistence. The Judgement, presented on March 31 2026 in Rabat, according to the event programme, and announced again in Brussels on April 20, 2026, identifies the Maghreb countries as responsible for crimes against humanity committed against migrants. The European Union was also found to be jointly responsible due to its financial support for these states and its policy of externalizing borders.
Requesting organizations: 54 organizations represented by the Maghreb Social Forum, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), and the Forum for Moroccan Alternatives (FMAS). Full list available at the link.
Documentation:
Indictment in French and in English
Abstract of the Indictment in English, French, Italian e Arabic
Judgement in French and English