Acknowledging that European peoples have legitimate reasons for concern about their security, the Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions argues, nonetheless, that excluding immigrants will not provide security.

“We warn against the idea that Europe can achieve security for itself by building walls. The nature of the threats to Europe’s security is too diverse and too complex for walls to be effective. Instead, walls exclude and discriminate, and create a sense of injustice. Security for Europe will only be achieved when all inhabitants of this world can perceive the world order as just,” asserts the declaration.

The statement goes on to suggest that European political leaders “must keep looking beyond the immediate crisis in order to address its real root causes.”

The Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions (Justice and Peace Europe) is the alliance of 31 Justice and Peace Commissions in Europe, working for the promotion of justice, peace and respect for human dignity. Its General Secretariat is based in Brussels.