We welcome improved search and rescue in the Med - but much more is needed

Susan Munroe, Chief Executive of Freedom from Torture, said:

"The E.U. leaders' commitment to improving search and rescue operations urgently is highly encouraging, as is the emerging U.K. cross-party consensus on this. We welcome the U.K. Prime Minister's leadership on this issue.

However, in order to achieve the comprehensive strategy which the U.K. Prime Minister has said he is seeking we also need to see effective identification of those individuals who  have fled torture and other human rights violations; and for the E.U. states, including the U.K.,to offer them them protection and support.

Long-term we also need a concerted response from the U.K. and other E.U. states on the root causes of this desperate flight across the Mediterranean. This should include work on the effective prevention of torture and other human rights abuses worldwide."