de:criminalize e.V.

Thank you for standing in solidarity with people on the move who are facing decades in prison simply for crossing borders. These brutal sentences are the result of the EU’s so-called anti-smuggling laws, which in reality punish the very people they claim to protect. Under these laws, rights are being systematically violated—both refugee protections and the most basic right to a fair trial. 

Your donations have made a real and very important difference in pushing back against this injustice. Thanks to your support, we have been able to assist more than 100 people with legal costs and access to committed, experienced lawyers! 

In a system where trials often last only a few minutes and convictions are almost automatic, legal defense can mean the difference between freedom and years—or decades—behind bars. With your help, we have secured acquittals and major sentence reductions, including in cases where people were facing extremely harsh sentences. These outcomes show just how far the system is from being fair, and how powerful it is to intervene. 

Your contributions have also allowed us to closely monitor and document court proceedings in countries such as Greece, Italy, and Spain. By being present in court and making these cases visible, we expose systematic abuses—lack of interpretation, last-minute lawyers, rushed hearings, and long periods of pretrial detention. None of this should be normal, yet it happens every day. 

In Greece, for example, cases with proper legal defense often last several times longer than those without—often making the difference between being heard and being pushed straight to conviction. 

Beyond the courtroom, your donations have helped us stay in touch with families, support people inside prisons, and make the human cost of these policies visible. Funds have been used to buy clothing, books, and—most importantly—phone cards for people in detention, helping them stay connected with their loved ones during moments of deep loneliness and fear. 

We have also been able to cover travel costs for family members and other key witnesses so they can attend trials—often essential for the defense, and sometimes the only chance families have to see each other, even if it’s just across a courtroom. 

Your donations strengthen the ongoing fight for freedom of movement and against a system that criminalizes migration and ignores fundamental rights. 

Thank you for being part of this struggle!