International human rights lawyer says 'EU member states are failing' in their obligations to refugees

Christina Velentza formerly worked for the Greek Asylum service in conjunction with the UNHCR

A leading academic and legal advisor has said that EU member states 'are failing' to meet their obligations to refugees reaching the continent.

Christina Velentza, an academy fellow at Chatham House and human rights lawyer with the Athens Bar Association, described to The Independent how we are seeing more borders and detention centres but not enough protection.

In the video above, Mrs Velentza details how EU member states are not living up to their duties in respect of asylum and refugees.

Having previously been attached to the Greek Asylum Service in partnership with UNHCR, Mrs Velentez has worked on refugee status determination procedure and the assessment of claims for international protection.

Her comments come on the day that marks one year since Alan Kurdi's dead body washed up on a beach in Turkey.

Another to criticise the lack of action towards the refugee crisis today was Lord Alf Dubs, a former refugee himself having arrived in the UK after fleeing the Nazis.

Lord Dubs accused the government of "dragging its feet" and called on Theresa May to "take immediate action".