Human Rights on Europe's Maritime BordersMaritime migrants intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard are returned to Libya (UN IOM file image) By Brian Gicheru Kinyua 11-06-2020 08:43:49The transnational movement of people - especially by water – is a divisive question in national debates. Terms such as “migrants,” “refugees” and even “asylum seekers” tend to fuel certain stereotypes, and consequently they fail to humanize the individuals involved. It is not Europe’s fault that there are political upheavals in the North African and Arab countries which are the primary sources of Mediterranean maritime migrants, but it is Europe’s responsibility to respect human rights, as stipulated by international law. This agency has been intercepting crossings along the Mediterranean Sea and returning migrants to Libyan shores. This West African sea passage to European territory was common in the early 2000s, until Spain stepped up its sea patrols.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 07, 2020 01:51 UTC