The Movement of Migrants and Refugees by Dangerous Means across the Mediterranean Sea and their Protection

Event organised in cooperation with the Red Cross Luxembourg

Speakers

• Violeta Moreno Lax, Lecturer in Law, Queen Mary, University of London
• Anaïs Faure Atger, Senior Migrant Adviser, Red Cross EU Office

Abstract

Dr. Violeta Moreno Lax will present recent state practice in the Mediterranean Sea regarding border security and migration control. Against this background, the international obligations stemming from the law of the sea, human rights conventions, and refugee protection instruments will be examined and used to delimit the scope of state powers of maritime interdiction of migrant boats. It will be argued that the rights to life, liberty, and non-refoulement, on proper construction, do not only constrain the use of force of warships, but in addition create a positive obligation to search, rescue and, crucially also, disembark those recovered at sea who are in need of international protection.

Anaïs Faure Atger will complement the seminar by presenting the perspective of the European Red Cross Societies on the situation of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean region and the south of Europe.