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A flottilla to stop migrants' deaths in the Mediterranean
All Included - 17.10.2011 11:09
For the last several years, African and European organisations have been challenging governments about the number of deaths occurring at the borders of the European Union, but in vain. We have come to the conclusion that it is essential now to move to direct action in the light of the reluctance of Europe to concede entry to refugees.
A flottilla to stop migrants' deaths in the Mediterranean
14 september 2011
For the last several years, African and European organisations alike have been challenging governments about the number of deaths occurring at the borders of the European Union, but in vain. We have come to the conclusion that it is essential now to move to direct action in the light of the excessive number of shipwrecks taking place in the Mediterranean and the reluctance of Europe to concede entry to refugees.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that more than 2000 people have drowned already this year, in full view of the military ships posted in the region and of the repressive patrols carried out by Frontex. We call for a Mediterranean which is in solidarity with migrants and in opposition to repressive policies which seek to criminalise migration towards Europe more and more each day.
What are the concrete aims of the flotilla?
By participating in the solidarity flotilla in the Mediterranean, we want:
* To encourage the media and politicians to denounce the tragedy which is taking place in the Strait of Sicily* To accuse those working at sea (border guards, Frontex, NATO) who are guilty of failing to assist migrants in difficulties and of refouling asylum seekers, against the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Geneva Convention* To gather statements and strengthen complaints made to international authorities* To exercise our right of access to the maritime regions in which these shipwrecks are taking place and to the centres in which migrants arriving in Italy are detained* To strengthen Euro-African solidarity with regard to migration and the defence of migrant rights
Who is involved in the project?
A coalition of international organisations and networks made up of both European and African associations. The project is led by a steering committee comprised of around fifteen Euro-African associations.
When will the flotilla leave and which route will it take?
We are aiming for the flotilla to leave as soon as possible - in the spring 2012 - from Rome, from where it will travel towards the south of Tunisia via Sicily, Malta, Lampedusa, Tunis, Sfax and Ben Guardane.
What type of boat and how many boats will be used in the flotilla?
At the moment, we aim to use one or several motorboats with a total capacity of around fifty passengers, including baggage. The passengers' roles will be varied, and will include acting as look-outs at sea, maintaining permanent communication with colleagues on land in order to convey information immediately, acting efficiently in the event of finding a shipwreck or migrants adrift, etc. If you have one - or several ! - boats and would like to follow the flotilla for all or part of the journey, please contact the organisers.
Who is invited onto the boats chartered by the associations?
The aim of the flotilla is to exert maximum pressure on the European authorities by carrying people likely to raise awareness of the situation in the Strait of Sicily and to denounce it to the greatest possible number of people.
We also aim to allow the greatest number of people possible to participate by rotating passengers at each stop.
If you are a parlementarian, journalist or artist and you wish to participate in a stage of the journey, please send your details to the organisers of the flotilla.
Since the number of places is limited, decisions concerning passengers will be made collectively by the associations involved in the steering committee so that a maximum number of countries are represented.
A solidarity flotilla in the Mediterranean...what next?
This initiative does not represent an end in itself for us, but rather a means of raising the alarm and a starting point for other actions on both shores of the Mediterranean. The aim is to create a network of people working on behalf of exiles (members of associations, activists, politicians, journalists, sailors, amateur yachtspeople, artists, inhabitants of the Mediterranean, etc.) and to establish links with exiles themselves in order to initiate new actions, to establish a more permanent observation of events taking place on the borders of the European Union and to fight together against the anti-migratory policy implemented by the majority of Mediterranean governments. We do not exclude the possibility of repeating the initiative and of chartering boats in the coming months in order to continue to denounce the situation.
How can I support the initiative?
You can support the Mediterranean solidarity flotilla in several ways:
* By creating a support committee in your local area in order to organise events and raise funds which will contribute to equipping the participating boats
* By talking about the project to the people around you, especially if you are in contact with politicians, journalists or other public figures likely to participate in or support the project* By making a donation yourself (our bank details can be found below)
By supporting this initiative you will be participating in a campaign to ensure that the Mediterranean becomes a place of solidarity rather than a mass grave. You will also be demonstrating to governments around the Mediterranean that shipwrecks in the Strait of Sicily will no longer go unpunished and trivialised on the basis that only non-Europeans are affected.
The following organizations will be represented:
International: FIDH (Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme), Migreurop;
Tunisia: CETUMA (Centre de Tunis pour la Migration et l'Asile), Comité pour les droits économiques et sociaux, Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme;
Morocco: GADEM (Groupe Antiraciste de Défense et d'accompagnement des Étrangers et Migrants);
Italy: ARCI (Associazione Ricreativa e Culturale Italiana);
Belgium: CIRE (Coordination et Initiatives pour Réfugiés et Étrangers), Ligue des Droits de l'Homme Belgique;
Germany: Afrique Europe Interact, Borderline Europe;
The Netherlands: All Included;
France: CCFD (Comité Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Développement), FASTI (Fédération des Associations de Soutien aux Travailleurs-euse-s Immigré-e-s), Cimade, Gisti
Contact:  coord@migreurop.org
 E-Mail: info@allincluded.nl  Website: http://www.allincluded.nl
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