Spain ombudsman to investigate migrant deaths off the North African coast News
© WikiMedia (U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area)
Spain ombudsman to investigate migrant deaths off the North African coast

The Spanish Ombudsman initiated an ex offcio action on Friday in relation to a rubber boat carrying migrants capsized 40 miles off the coast of Morocco on June 21st. The rubber boat was carrying 60 people, including children, heading to the Canary Islands and resulted in the death of more than 30 migrants. The Canary Islands have become the main destination for migrants attempting to reach Spain and mainland Europe and 227 migrants have been rescued during the busy summer period.

The Ombudsman seeks to investigate whether Spain was compliant with its obligations under EU law and whether human rights standards were upheld throughout the rescue attempt. Both the Regional Coordination Center of the Canary Islands and the Society of Rescue and Maritime Security are involved in the action and are required to provide further information about the shipwreck.

The President of the NGO Walking Borders, Helen Maleno Garzon, criticised Spain in how they handled the migration route, suggesting that Spain and Morocco are “playing with people’s lives” hinting at a dispute between maritime zones. It was then discovered that the rubber boat was in Spain’s search and rescue maritime zone according to international law; therefore, Spanish authorities should have led the recovery effort. This recent migrant death has caused controversy over the maritime zone off the coast of Western Sahara, which is a non-self-governing territory according to the UN, although Morocco controls most of it.

Last year, the Ombudsman ruled that Spain did not uphold domestic and international law in a similar migrant crossing tragedy where 23 people died because Spain “carelessly” returned migrants to Morocco. However, the Spanish Transport Ministry stated that the migrant rescue service has continually complied with EU and international procedures.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.