Welcome to Human Rights Observers
Human Rights Observers is an independent, watchdog which aims to document and denounce the State violence perpetrated against displaced people at the France-UK border.
Our Mission
Our modus operandi resembles copwatching. We are present as often as possible during police operations and especially during evictions of informal living sites, in order to document these practices. In addition to these observations, the people who live in the camps often report being victims of numerous instances of police violence.
Our Mission
Our modus operandi resembles copwatching. We are present as often as possible during police operations and especially during evictions of informal living sites, in order to document these practices. In addition to these observations, the people who live in the camps often report being victims of numerous instances of police violence. In these cases, we are able to provide advice and legal support.
Combined data from Calais and Grande-Synthe in 2023
*Collected solely during forced evictions **Our data is not exhaustive
701
evictions of informal living spaces
19365
people evicted
277
arrests
2181
tents and tarps seized
242
sleeping bags and blankets seized
123
times filmed by law enforcement (HRO teams)
Combined data from Calais and Grande-Synthe in 2021
*Collected solely during forced evictions **Our data is not exhaustive
1287
evictions of informal living spaces
10121
tents and tarps seized
205
arrests
3751
sleeping bags and blankets seized
127
instances of violence by police against displaced people
640
bags seized
