LIBORG · EU Externalization of Migration and Border Management to Libya: the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations and Human Rights Implications
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-05-03 → 2021-05-02
- EU contribution
- €184,708
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
EU Externalization of Migration and Border Management to Libya: the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations and Human Rights Implications
Libya, besides being itself an immigration country, is also a transit country for migrants attempting the irregular sea crossing to Europe. Since the 1990’s, European countries, such as Italy, as well as the European Union, have tried to involve the Libyan authorities, as well as non-state actors, in the process called ‘externalisation’ of migration control, meaning that controls are carried out by proxy in Libyan territory in the interest and on behalf of European destination countries. In Libya, most undocumented migrants live in extremely harsh conditions. This is the case of those held in detention facilities but also of most of those that are not detained. Abuses and exploitation are perpetrated by state and non-state actors alike. In this context, part of the activities aimed at ‘managing’ migration in Libya are carried out by NGOs (non-governmental organisations). The research question was therefore: what do NGOs do in Libya in the field of migration? Who is funding them? In how far do do they work in the interest of their (mostly European state) donors? In how far do they contribute to the externalisation of European migration control policies? How do their migration-related activities in Libya impact on the human rights of migrants? Which human rights are supported, and which ones are not, through the work of NGOs in Libya? And how does this relate to EU externalisation? The project aimed at: a) mapping the different NGOs operating in the field of international migration in Libya; b) analyzing their mandates and activities, as well as the relevant funding sources; c) analyzing the relations they have to one another as well as to state authorities and IOs; d) assessing the relationship NGOs have with externalization and with human rights. This is an important issue for the European society because the externalisation of migration and border controls is part of the EU’s external action. According to article 21 of the Treaty on European Union, “[t]he Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the wider world: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law”. Moreover, NGOs, as an essential part of civil society, and their work thus represents a cornerstone of the principle of participatory democracy enshrined in article I-47 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
LIBORG aims at exploring, from the perspective of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in migration-related activities, the reconfiguration of the Libyan migration and border regime since Gadhafi’s fall in 2011. Libya is a point of departure of migrants heading for Europe on makeshift boats. Italy (as the landing country) and the EU have long been trying to include Libya in the process of externalization, which aims to support countries of origin and transit in their efforts to stem unwanted migration. A crucial role in this process is played by international organizations (IOs) and other non-state actors, which: a) directly carry out activities in countries of origin and transit (e.g. refugee protection, repatriations, assistance to detained people, livelihood projects and information campaigns aimed at reducing migration); b) provide local state authorities with know-how and technical support. While a growing body of research has started analyzing this process, scant attention has been paid to Libya (as opposed to other countries) and to the role played by NGOs (as opposed to that played by IOs). Gadhafi’s fall allowed for many international NGOs to start activities in Libya, and for many Libyan NGOs to be established. Despite Libya’s political instability, their activities have increased sharply, along with the increase in funding from EU and Italy, since 2017. In 2017 and 2018, extraordinary funding was made available by EU and Italy to IOs, which typically subcontract part of their activities to NGOs. In 2018, six Italian NGOs started working in Libyan detention centres under a scheme funded by the Italian government. LIBORG will, first, map the different NGOs operating in this field. Then, it will analyze their mandates and activities, as well as the relevant funding sources, and the relations they have to one another as well as to state authorities and IOs. Finally, it will assess the relationship between externalization, NGOs and human rights.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITE PARIS 13 · VilletaneuseCoordinatorFrance
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union