NGOs from several Mediterranean countries have issued a joint declaration before the Valletta summit, insisting that human rights must be at the core of migration policies.
The NGOs complained that no consideration has been given in this policy process to recommendations formulated by civil society organisations, which have been left aside of the Malta summit and of the establishment of migration policies in general, despite the effects of these policies on the lives, fundamental rights and mobility of men, women and children.<
"Once again, terms of cooperation remain euro-centric and focused on efficient return/removal policies as well as on the need for cooperation on behalf of non-EU countries to fight so-called 'irregular' migration," the NGOs said.
"In Europe and in Africa, the security obsession which has characterised migration policies is unfolding with increased border closures on both continents, despite fatal consequences and human rights violations."
The NGOs insisted that migration is not a threat but they expressed grave concerns that the EU is exporting a failed vision on mobility. "The human cost of current migration policies is a tragedy and shows that these policies do not correspond to people’s needs and aspirations."
The EU, they said, must stop conditioning external cooperation upon the signature of readmission agreements.
The NGOs also complained that they were not eligible for accreditation during the Valetta Summit.
The signatories were
Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH)
Group Against Racism and for the Defence and Accompaniment of Foreigners and Migrants (GADEM)
Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH)
National Autonomous Union of Public Administration Workers (SNAPAP)
Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT)
Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LTDH)
Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES)
Tunis Centre for Migration and Asylum (CeTuMA)
Tunisian Federation for a Citizenship of both banks of the Mediterranean (FTCR)
Association of Scientific Studies on Population, Migration and Health (ASPOMIS)
Committee for the Respect of Human Rights and Freedoms in Tunisia (CRLDHT)
Frontiers Ruwad
Tamkeen Jordan
Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD)
Mülteci Der
Human Rights Association Turkey (IHD)
Associazione Ricreativa e Culturale Italiana (ARCI)
European Association of Human Rights (AEDH)
Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance – International Refugee Rights Initiative (AMERA/IRRI)
Collective Loujna Tankaranké
Medico International
EuroMed Rights
Egyptian Foundation for Refugee Rights (EFRR)
La Cimade
Malian Association of Deportees (AME)
Niger Association for the Defence of Human Rights
Network for Migration and and Development
Italian Council for Refugees (CIR)
Italian General Labour Union (CGIL)
International Federation of the Human Rights Leagues (FIDH)
Alternative Spaces for Citizens Niger (AEC)