Background information
The Business of Building Walls
Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe is once again known for its borderwalls. This time Europe is divided not so much by ideology as by perceived fear of
refugees and migrants, some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Who killed the dream of a more open Europe? What gave rise to this new era of walls? There are clearly many reasons – the increasing displacement of people by conflict, repression and impoverishment, the rise of security politics in the wake of 9/11, the economic and social insecurity felt across Europe after the 2008 financial crisis – to name a few. But one group has by far the most to gain from the rise of new walls – the businesses that build them. Their influence in shaping a world of walls needs much deeper examination. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Europa
Building walls: fear and securitization policies in the European Union
Member states of the European Union and Schengen Area have constructed almost 1000 km of walls, the equivalent of more than six times the total length of the Berlin Walls, since the nineties to prevent displaced people migrating into Europe. These physical walls are accompanied by even longer ‘maritime walls’, naval operations patrolling the Mediterranean, as well as ‘virtual walls’, border control systems that seek to stop people entering or even traveling within Europe, and control movement of population. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Europa
UNICEF Report: Child-sensitive return: Upholding the best interests of refugee and migrant children in return and reintegration decisions and processes in Germany
Many European governments increasingly seek to return migrant children to their countries of origin or transit, but this is often not undertaken in full accordance with international obligations on children’s rights, nor with respect for children’s best interests. The present study – “Child-sensitive return. Upholding the best interests of refugee and migrant children in return and reintegration decisions and processes in Germany” – outlines areas of progress in policy and practice for children made in recent years. However, it also clearly shows that more action is required to ensure that the principle of the best interests of the child guides all decisions in this area. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Deutschland
Behind the new refugee surge to the Greek islands
“They told us, the young boys, to take a gun and go fight. Because of that I escaped from there [and] came here,” Mohammed, a 16-year-old from Ghazni province in Afghanistan, said while sitting in the entrance of a small, summer camping tent on the Greek island of Lesvos in early October.
Nearby, across a narrow streambed, the din of voices rose from behind the barbed wire-topped fences surrounding Moria, Europe’s largest refugee camp.
With the capacity to house around 3,000 people, the camp has long since spilled out of its walls, spreading into the olive groves on the surrounding hills, and is continuing to grow each day, with dangers of sickness and accidents set to increase in the winter months ahead. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei
Tripolis und der Bluff der Küstenwache: "Alles wird von Rom koordiniert"
Libysche Seenotrettungszone (SAR) à la italiana, zweiter Akt. Wie auch immer die Verhandlungen über das Abkommen zwischen Rom und Tripolis enden werden, die Komödie über die Existenz eines echten, effizienten und autonomen Such- und Rettungsgebietes (SAR) unter der Leitung Libyens wird fortgesetzt. Und damit die versteckte Rolle des "Koordinators der Operationen auf See", die die italienische Marine übernommen hat. Das belegen einige Dokument, die von der Tageszeitung Repubblica eingesehen wurden und die nun bei der Staatsanwaltschaft in Agrigent liegen, welche ermittelt. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Italien / Malta, Nordafrika
bordermonitoring.eu e.V.: Newsletter #3.2019
In der neunten Ausgabe des Newsletters von bordermonitoring.eu wird, wie gewohnt, der aktuelle Stand des Grenzregimes in Ungarn, auf der Balkanroute, in Bulgarien, der Türkei und in Italien zusammengefasst. Zuallerallererst wird in diesem Newsletter jedoch näher auf ein Phänomen eingegangen, welches bisher – zumindest im deutschsprachigen Raum – noch weitestgehend unbekannt ist: Bootsgeflüchtete im Kanal zwischen Frankreich und England. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Balkanstaaten, Italien / Malta, Griechenland / Türkei, Osteuropa, Europäische Union, Europa
The Rescue: a flimsy raft, more than 100 souls, and three teenage heroes — or are they pirates?
Malta is currently the place of a political trial against three teenagers – 15, 16 and 19 years old. They were part of a group of 108 people who were rescued on March 26 this year by the merchant vessel El Hiblu 1 on its route to Tripoli. A European military aircraft alerted the commercial tanker as the so-called Libyan coastguards were not operative. When the migrants who had escaped Libya realised that they were returned back to their place of torment and an active warzone, they desperately demanded of the crew to change course and sail to Europe.[23] The teenagers, the “El Hiblu 3”, who were negotiating with the crew due to their language skills, rescued these 108 people, among them women and children, from being refouled back to Libya. Now they stand trial before the Maltese court, accused of having engaged in “terroristic” activities. The prosecution wants to turn the three into terrorist pirates who could face sentences up to 30 years in prison. The concrete charges against the “El Hiblu 3” are expected to come soon. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Italien / Malta, Europäische Union, Europa
ESCLUSIVO - UNHCR in Libia, parte 1: Dalla difesa dei rifugiati a quella degli interessi europei?
Il 3 ottobre si celebra la Giornata della Memoria e dell’Accoglienza per ricordare e commemorare tutte le vittime dell’immigrazione. Ricorda il naufragio del 2013 in cui 368 persone persero la vita al largo di Lampedusa.
In questo anniversario, Euronews pubblica in esclusiva un'inchiesta sull'operato di UNHCR, l'Alto Commissariato delle Nazioni Unite per i Rifugiati, in Libia, dove migliaia di migranti vivono in centri di detenzione o per le pericolose strade di Tripoli con la speranza, un giorno, di arrivare in Europa.
Nella nostra indagine abbiamo riscontrato preoccupanti negligenze in termini di assistenza umanitaria nei confronti di migranti e rifugiati che aspettano, a volte per anni, di sapere che ne sarà di loro. Restano in attesa in centri dove stupri, torture ma anche colpi d'arma da fuoco possono essere all'ordine del giorno. Ci domandiamo perché un'agenzia dell'Onu abbia difficoltà a lavorare in Libia nonostante il governo di Accordo Nazionale sia riconosciuto dall'Onu; ma, soprattutto, ci chiediamo il perché della mancanza di trasparenza che circonda l'operato dell'agenzia a Tripoli. Lo facciamo anche grazie alle interviste ai migranti detenuti in quelli che sono stati definiti dallo stesso Alto Commissario dell'UNHCR, Filippo Grandi, come veri e propri "campi di concentramento". read more
Language(s): Italienisch / Italiano
Region(s): Nordafrika
UNHCR in Libia, parte 3 - Parla un whistleblower: "Favoritismi e cultura dell'impunità"
L'indagine di Euronews sull'operato dell'UNHCR, l'Alto Commissario Onu per i Rifugiati, in Libia è stata portata all'attenzione del portavoce del segretario generale delle Nazioni Unite, António Guterres.
In questa terza parte della nostra inchiesta esclusiva diamo la parola a un whistleblower, un ex dipendente dell'agenzia che denuncia "la peggiore" gestione "della regione", tra accuse di corruzione, "cultura dell'impunità", errori procedurali nel sistema delle registrazioni dei rifugiati e incompetenza dello staff locale di fronte a decine di migliaia di migranti in situazione di estrema vulnerabilità.
L'ex membro dello staff UNHCR ha parlato con Euronews chiedendo di restare anonimo per paura di ripercussioni. Dal suo racconto emerge il ritratto di un'agenzia non in grado di assolvere a pieno al proprio mandato, in una Libia sempre più violenta e instabile in cui i richiedenti asilo che non si trovano nei centri di detenzione vivono per strada, senza protezione, cure mediche o informazioni. read more
Language(s): Italienisch / Italiano
Region(s): Nordafrika
UNHCR in Libia, parte 2 - I migranti nei centri di detenzione: "Perché UNHCR vuole tenerci qui?"
In questa seconda parte della nostra inchiesta sulle operazioni UNHCR in Libia, pubblichiamo le testimonianze dei migranti che sono stati registrati o sperano di essere registrati per il ricollocamento. Attendono di sapere quale sarà il loro destino nei centri di detenzione per non perdere la priorità _➡️ PARTE 1
Nonostante un crescente impegno economico della UE nel supporto e addestramento delle unità di guardia costiera libica e un memorandum of understanding italiano con il GNA e l'organismo libico responsabile per la gestione dei centri di detenzione, ancora non sono stati fatti passi avanti per garantire il pieno rispetto dei diritti umani e condizioni di vita dignitose per i migranti nel paese. read more
Language(s): Italienisch / Italiano
Region(s): Nordafrika, Europäische Union
The "temporary solidarity mechanism" on relocation of people rescued at sea - what does it say?
Germany, France, Italy and Malta have drafted a declaration (pdf) establishing a "predictable and efficient temporary solidarity mechanism" aimed at ensuring the "dignified disembarkation" of people rescued at sea in the Mediterranean. If those rescued are eligible for international protection they will be relocated to a participating EU member state within four weeks, while ineligible persons will be subject to "effective and quick return. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Europäische Union
Urgence à la mobilisation : le procès en appel des solidaires approche !
Les 2 et 24 octobre, deux Solidairs feront appel au tribunal de Grenoble pour violation de la solidarité. Ils sont accusés de faciliter l'entrée d'immigrants clandestins sur le territoire français, mais ils ont aidé des personnes en danger. Appel aux protestations devant le tribunal de Grenoble. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Frankreich
Italy’s redefinition of sea rescue as a crime draws on EU policy for inspiration
On the evening of 18 March, an ongoing conflict between the Italian government and civil sea rescue initiatives was reignited following the rescue of 49 people in international waters north of Libya by the ship Mare Jonio, of the Italian citizen-funded sea rescue initiative Mediterranea - Saving Humans. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Italien / Malta
Balkan Region: Illegal Pushbacks and Border Violence Reports
In July, illegal cross-border pushbacks continued at an increasingly institutionalized level along the EU’s external borders throughout the Balkans. Politicians, encouraged by unclear signals from the EU, have made clear that pushbacks operations are organized from the highest level of government. Varying levels of violence are employed by police officers during the apprehension, detention and return operations, creating a deterrence effect. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Balkanstaaten, Osteuropa, Europäische Union, Europa
South Atlantic Quarterly: Disorienting Disability
In der aktuellen Ausgabe von South Atlantic Quarterly Volume 118 (Issue 3) sind unter anderem verschiedene Artikel zum Thema Migration und MIttelmeer erschienen.
read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Italien / Malta, Nordafrika, Europäische Union, Europa, Afrika
Pro Asyl: Neun-Punkte-Programm für den Flüchtlingsschutz in Europa
Menschenrechte sind unteilbar und gelten für alle. Gemeinsam mit der Neuen Richtervereinigung haben wir ein ein Neun-Punkte-Programm für den Flüchtlingsschutz in Europa formuliert. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Deutschland, Europäische Union, Europa
Illegal Buck-Backs and Border Violence Report, Westbalkan, Mai 2019
May report on cross-border violence in the Western Balkans. In total, this report covers 23 case reports of (in many cases violent) collective expulsions in the region.The reports were conducted with a wide demographic variety of respondents ranging from families to single men to unaccompanied minors. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Balkanstaaten, Osteuropa, Europa
Borders of violence: “When I resisted to enter the small dark room, they started beating me..”
Alarm Phone: Western Med Regional Analysis, 18 March - 31 May 2019
Since August/September 2018, we have witnessed a constant exacerbation of the situation of travellers in transit on the Western Mediterranean route. Violence and the threat of detention is a constant reality for sub-saharan travellers. The title is taken from the testimony of an AP member who was arrested and beaten in Tanger. The assault was witnessed by another comrade (see below). Her experience is just one example of police violence and unlawful arbitrary repression in Morocco. It is not an unfortunate, if all to common blip but part of the violent structures imposed by the Moroccan state at the behest of the European Union. We will not stop making visible and denouncing this structural violence! read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Spanien, Nordafrika
Bulgarien: Flüchtlinge zwischen Haft und Obdachlosigkeit
Die Lage der Geflüchteten im Transit, ihre Unterbringung und Integrationsperspektiven in Bulgarien. Von Mathias Fiedler und Marc Speer
Auch wenn die Zahl der Asylantragsteller_innen in den letzten Jahren zurückgegangen ist, stellt Bulgarien nach wie vor ein bedeutsames Transitland für Geflüchtete dar.[1] Die allermeisten von ihnen wollen Bulgarien jedoch lediglich durchqueren und weiter nach Mittel- und Nordeuropa reisen. Dies hat verschiedene Gründe: Einerseits sind die Anerkennungsraten für Asylbewerber_innen, die nicht aus Syrien stammen, im europäischen Vergleich auffallend niedrig, andererseits sind die Integrationsperspektiven anerkannter Flüchtlinge miserabel. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Europa
Italienisch – Libysche Kooperation kostet Menschenleben
Obwohl sich der Bürgerkrieg in Libyen durch die angestrebte Machtübernahme von General Haftar immer weiter zuspitzt und besonders die Lage der in den Auffangzentren festsitzenden Migrant*innen sich täglich verschlimmert, werden regelmäßig Menschen auf ihrer Flucht über das Mittelmeer von der sogenannten libyschen Küstenwache eingefangen und in genau die unmenschlichen Bedingungen zurückgeschickt, aus denen sie entflohen waren. Dies geschieht nicht nur im Wissen der europäischen Staaten, sondern sogar mit ihrer aktiven Hilfe. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Italien / Malta, Nordafrika, Europäische Union