Organizzato nell’ambito del progetto #externalisationpolicieswatch

In collaborazione con Global Dialogue

La cooperazione con la Libia sull’esternalizzazione delle frontiere e sul controllo della migrazione: tra strategie di contenimento e violazioni dei diritti umani. Negli ultimi anni la cooperazione dell’UE e degli Stati membri con le autorità libiche si è drammaticamente intensificata, traducendosi nella facilitazione di pratiche di respingimento illegale di uomini, donne e bambini in Libia, dove corrono il grave rischio di subire violenze e torture nell’inferno dei campi di detenzione e in una situazione umanitaria sempre più tragica a causa dell’escalation del conflitto armato a Tripoli e della diffusione del Covid-19. Ricercatori, giornalisti ed esperti provenienti dalle due sponde del Mediterraneo analizzeranno il contesto e le recenti strategie di controllo della migrazione e descriveranno il loro fondamentale lavoro di denuncia per richiedere trasparenza e giustizia.

Modera: Annalisa Camilli (Internazionale).
Introduce: Filippo Miraglia (ARCI).

Intervengono su “Il contesto geopolitico e la crisi umanitaria”:

• Francesca Mannocchi (giornalista);
• Karim Salem (CIHRS-Libyan Platform);
• Marco Bertotto (MSF).

Intervengono su “Le strategie di controllo della migrazione e le pratiche di respingimento nel Mediterraneo”:

• Sara Prestianni (EuroMed Rights);
• Muhammad al- Kashef (Watch the Med Alarmphone);
• Nello Scavo (giornalista);
• Alessandra Sciurba (Mediterranea Saving Humans).

Intervengono su “Il necessario lavoro di monitoraggio e denuncia a livello europeo”:

• Diletta Agresta (ASGI, Sciabaka/Oruka);
• Roberto Sensi (ActionAid);
• Pierfrancesco Majorino (EP, S&D)
• Tineke Strik, EP – Greens/EFA 

In collaboration with Global Dialogue

Human rights violations and deterrence measures in the context of the cooperation with Libya on borders and migration control. In the past years the cooperation between EU, Member States and Libyan authorities has been increasingly strengthen and traduced into the facilitation of pull and push-back practices, at the expenses of men, women and children sent back to Libya, where they face the serious risk of torture and violence in the detention camps, in a context of increasing humanitarian crisis due to the armed conflict in Tripoli and the Covid-19 emergency. Journalists, researchers and experts from the two sides of Mediterranean will analyze the context and recent migration control strategies and will present their fundamental work aimed a requiring transparency and justice. 

Moderator: Annalisa Camilli, Journalist of Internazionale 

Intro: Filippo Miraglia, ARCI (10 min) 

I Section: The geopolitical context and the humanitarian crisis (30 min) 

The appeal for immediate global ceasefire to counter Covid-19 crisis of the UN Secretary-General arrived in a moment where it is clear that the Libyan conflict has turned into a proxy war. Several attacks on civilians have brought to the displacement of hundreds of people, mainly Libyan citizens. In this context, to which is added the risk of a sanitary emergency due to the Corona virus, Europe is still lacking to protect the most vulnerable part of the population, like migrants trapped in detention centers, who too often have no other choice than trying to cross the Mediterranean in overcrowded boats to escape Libya. 

Interventions: 

• Francesca Mannocchi, Journalist (10 min)
• Karim Salem, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies – Libyan Platform (10 min) 
• Marco Bertotto, Doctors Without Borders Italy (10 min) 

II Section: Strategies of migration control and push-backs in the Mediterranean (40 min) 

Despite the tragic situation of migrants and asylum seekers trapped in Libya, in the past months EU Member States – first among all Italy and Malta – continued their approach of containment and deterrence of people trying to reach Europe, contributing to the refoulement of tens of thousands of women and men back to Libya and declaring their own ports “not safe” for migrants disembarkation. While Europe ignore its obbligations and denies its responsibilities, Italy continues the hypocrite collaboration with the so called Libyan coast guards, and Malta enlistes a private fleet to intercept migrants and force them back to Libya, in complete violation of international SAR obbligation and human rights laws. 

Interventions: 

• Sara Prestianni, EuroMed Rights 
• Muhammad al- Kashef, Watch the Med Alarmphone
• Nello Scavo, giornalista 
• Alessandra Sciurba, Mediterranea Saving Humans 

III Section: The necessary monitoring and denounce work at European level (30 min) 

The cooperation strategy with Libya has been shaped for years by programs aimed at borders strengthening, which now risk to facilitate human rights violations for the sake of migration control. The problems of an approach to cooperation which combine security, migration and development goals is reflected in the often un-transparent use of EU funds. Moreover, EU funds meant to address migration, security and development are becoming increasingly “flexible” instruments, in order to respond to emergency and short-term logics. More than ever, it’s fundamental that civil society and democratic institutions continue demanding transparency and accountability. 

Interventions: 

• Diletta Agresta, ASGI Sciabaka/Oruka 
• Roberto Sensi, ActionAid
• Pierfrancesco Majorino, EP – S&D 
• Tineke Strik, EP – Greens/EFA 

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