Deaths at the Mediterranean sea: how to act for difference instead of indifference?

When it comes to human rights, I hear more and more often that “indifference” is the main reason why promotion and enforcement of human rights is blocked. Indifference is not an incurable disease and we can overcome it together. We just have to look at our recent past when we used to respond differently to human tragedies compared to the response of last week to the death of human beings in the Mediterranean Sea. What was the difference between back then and now? Decision makers showed more consistency between shared human rights values, actions and long-term policies to address such disasters.

Thirty-five years ago we were facing an economic crisis with high unemployment as we are doing now, but we were ready to welcome people who fled Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos on boats. They were welcomed by a hundred of thousands in a single EU country. This is the difference we want to see, and this is why today Social Platform campaigns for ending criminalisation of solidarity with undocumented migrants. Anyone should be allowed to support those who are in despair and flee their home countries, we should be able to rescue people at sea and provide humanitarian assistance within the EU.

Human rights and solidarity have to underpin European policies. Governments should listen to the messages our members sent to the European Council last Thursday (23 April). Eurodiaconia, Caritas Europa, Solidar, PICUM, ENAR, and FEANTSA, have expressed their disapproval of the security focus of the Council conclusion and proposed alternative policies. What EU governments proposed is primary border management and control, whereas the Italian Mare Nostrum action – the action of a single member state – helped save the lives of thousands of migrants.

Two years ago Social Platform developed a position for a human rights approach to migration. 25% of all EU-27 residents will be foreign-born or have at least one foreign-born parent by 2060. This is not about “them”, this is about “us” and our future generations. We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in the Mediterranean Sea. We need to act together to change our national and EU policies so they underpin our values and rights.

Let’s engage

Pierre Baussand, Director of Social Platform