GeMUN 2016
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Mediterranean Conference – Topic 1:
MEASURES TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL
MIGRATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Definition of key terms
Refugee
The term refugee should apply to any person who, as a result of events owing to wellfounded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a
particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is
unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country;
or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual
residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to
it. In the case of a person who has more than one nationality, the term “the country of his
nationality” shall mean each of the countries of which he is a national and a person shall not
be deemed to be lacking the protection of the country of his nationality if, without any valid
reason based on well-founded fear, he has not availed himself of the protection of one of the
countries of which he is a national.
Schengen zone
The Schengen zone is a region composed of 26 European countries that guarantee the
possibility of a free boarding crossing, without any passport control, for all citizens of these
countries. The Schengen agreement is important for the current migrant crisis because it
allows every migrant or refugee to go to different nations and consequently evade the
Dublin regulation. The Schengen agreement will be reviewed after the Paris attacks of
November 13th to mitigate the risk of future terrorist attacks.
The Dublin regulation
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The Dublin Regulation is a law passed by the EU that forces a migrant or asylum seeker to
stay in the country of arrival until receiving proper documentation for asylum. This has
caused many issues for countries on the Mediterranean Sea like Italy and Greece as they
have been the primary European locations for the arrival of migrants. This creates an
imbalance and leaves these countries with a much heavier burden than the richer and more
powerful northern European countries (France, UK, Germany, etc.). This law has caused
much controversy and an unwillingness to help fellow member states in need by wealthy EU
states due to the lack of culpability.
The Arab Spring
The Arab Spring was a wave of political and revolutionary change within the Middle East
lasting from late 2010 to 2013. Fuelled by civil war and protests, this was essentially a
period in which many of the governments of countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya were
brought down. This was a time of growing change in the Arab World, but essentially led to
the weakening of these countries and in some cases the rise of extremist groups like the ISIL
within some of these nations. Moreover, the situation in many of these countries, not only in
Syria, is now unstable, and the countries are passing through a period of political assessment
far from its end.
The Palermo Protocols
The Palermo protocols are three protocols signed in 2000 in Palermo. They are:
1. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially
Women and Children. In this protocol is defined the crime of human trafficking and
punishments against that crime.
2. The Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. The Protocol
is aimed at protecting the rights of migrants and reducing power and influence of
organized criminal groups that abuse migrants. It emphasizes the need to provide
migrants with humane treatments, and the need for comprehensive international
approaches to combating people smuggling, including socio-economic measures that
address the root causes of migration.
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3. The Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Their
Parts and Components and Ammunition.
Background Information
Over the last few months, there has been an increase in human trafficking in the
Mediterranean region. The most tragic and emblematic images of these facts include the picture of a
dead child lying motionless on a Turkish beach and the huge number of migrants rescued by EU
fleets. These facts not only show the urgency of the refugee crisis in Europe, but also illustrate the
inhumane conditions and the risks that migrants have to run throughout their journey to Europe.
The Mediterranean region has become a motorway for migrants wishing to reach Europe from
African and Middle Eastern countries.
This issue is very complex because it originates from diverse difficult situations in many
Low Economy Developed Countries (LEDCs) in Africa and the Middle East. Furthermore, EU
countries do not have a common refugee policy; each EU country’s reaction is different and the EU
response is therefore neither unanimous nor resolute. This disagreement causes difficult and
embarrassing situations, for example: the events in Ventimiglia in June 2015, when France
authorities closed the border to migrants, who were then forced to sleep on the rocks; the hundreds
of migrants who spent many nights in the Budapest Station waiting for a train to Austria; and all the
delays in the Eurotunnel. These people are trying to evade political and social issues, religious
persecutions and war. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that around
350,000 refugees and migrants crossed EU borders from January to August 2015. According to
IOM, the total number in 2015 reached 750,000. This number is a huge increase from 2014, when
“only” 280,000 migrants and refugees arrived in the EU. These numbers only include documented
migrants and refugees. The majority of these people come from Syria, Eritrea and Afghanistan.
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The increase of immigration fluxes is an urgent issue for Europe and the Mediterranean
region. Migrants in Europe mostly live in poor conditions and the local population fear them and
their religion as possible source of terrorism. Due to the recent attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq
and Levant (ISIL), a contagious wave of fear toward the Muslim religion is speeding across the EU
population. The majority of migrants and refugees are predominantly Muslim. These facts can lead
to an increase in racism, xenophobia and isolation toward migrants and to a growth in nationalist
parties. At the same time, migrants and refugees make dangerous and long trips. United Nation
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that in 2015 around 3.000 migrants died in
the Mediterranean Sea.
Main countries and organizations involved
In the following section we are going to briefly explain the situation of the main countries
and the main organizations involved in this issue. The countries will be divided in two groups:
countries of origin and arrival countries.
Countries of origin
As stated before, the main countries of origin are Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea. The
situation in these countries is difficult because of armed conflicts and poor living conditions.
Syria
More than 250,000 people have lost their lives in the fights that begun in March 2011
against Bashar Al Assad’s government. Since that date, the number of rebels demonstrating
against the government has risen. In order to control demonstrations, Assad deployed his
army and civil war begun. According to UN commission of inquiry in Syria, both Assad and
rebels have committed terrible actions and violations of human rights throughout the last
five years; actions condemned by the international community (the majority of these acts are
imputed to the Assad Government Army). Nowadays, the situation is more complex. ISIL
begun its activities in Syria in 2014 and it actually represents a major threat for Assad, who
is now supported by the Russian Federation. The international coalition, led by the US,
supports every rebel group, except for the Kurds, who are a minority present in Turkey,
Syria, Iraq and Armenia and persecuted by Erdogan’s nationalistic Turkish government.
This complex and instable situation has made Syria a dangerous place, in particular for
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civilians. Therefore, many of them have left the country in an attempt to escape from these
atrocities and the risk of losing their lives. The UNHCR estimates that approximately 4.4
million Syrians have left the country since 2011. The Syrians make up 40% of all refugees
and migrants, while just 150,000 have asked for asylum in Europe. This means that a huge
part of them illegally immigrated to the continent and that many Syrians asked for asylum in
Middle Eastern countries, close to Syria.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is coming out from long years of war within the intervention of an international
coalition led by the US and the Northern Atlantic Trade Organization (NATO). Now the
Afghan government is under immense pressure, its underpaid and overstretched forces have
been on the back foot in their first season without NATO combat support. They are trying to
push the Taliban back, most recently in the key southern province of Helmand - but the way
the insurgents took the northern city of Kunduz still weighs on people's minds.
Libya
In order to analyse the actual situation in Libya it is very important to understand the reasons
for which such a great number of migrants is able to cross the Mediterranean Sea and reach
the coasts of Lampedusa. Until 2011, Libya was governed by the Muammar Muhammad
Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi’s authoritarian government. Throughout the Arab Spring, Libyan
rebel armies, supported by an international coalition led by France, ousted Gaddafi. After his
fall, democratic elections have been organized but new governments have not been able to
quell rebellions in the country. Today, three main groups are fighting in Libya. First,
General Khalifa Haftar’s army, supported by the Bengasi Assembly, in the west of the
country. Second, the “Red Dawn” forces operating in the east of the country, supported by
the Tobruk Assembly. Finally, ISIL have began operations in Libya in 2014 and is now
taking advantages of the intense conflicts between the other two factions. However, the
situation is even more complex that that; indeed dozens small factions are present in Libya,
established in the hinterland, fighting one against each other. It is easy to understand that
this chaotic situation permits human traffickers to freely operate without respecting
international laws. For this reason, Libyan stability is one of the main issues for the UN,
which has named a mediator, Bernardino Leon, to set as interlocutor between the different
Libyan factions.
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Arrival countries
The objective of migrants is to reach northern European countries, such as France, Germany
and the United Kingdom. For this reason, they have to pass through “border” EU countries, such as
Spain, Italy, Greece, Macedonia and Hungary.
Italy and Greece
These nations have proven to have very different reactions and outcomes in light of the
European Refugee Crisis. As stated numerous times throughout this report, Italy and Greece
are the primary countries involved in this crisis. Based on their proximity to the
Mediterranean Sea, waves of migrants and refugees have been landing these nation’s shores.
Due to already weakened economic systems caused by the Financial Crisis of 2008 and the
restrictions made by the Dublin Regulation, these nations have been left with a massive
burden that nearly no other country has helped them with. Economic hardship makes it
difficult for these countries to provide aid to the refugees and migrants who are required by
the Dublin Regulation to stay within their borders. However, help to migrants has been
provided by naval operations, like Mare Nostrum. This situation not only puts a massive
burden on these nations but also results in overcrowded, unsanitary and poor conditions for
migrants and refugees.
Hungary
Hungary, over the last few months, has become a transit country between east and west.
Many migrants prefer to follow the land path from the Middle East to Europe, instead of
crossing the Mediterranean Sea with its risks. The current government, led by the
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conservative Viktor Orbán, has adopted a strong policy against migrants. By creating a barb
wired fence along its border with Serbia, Hungary has prevented and dissuaded the arrival of
these people within its borders.
Germany
Germany, on the other hand, has set the example for providing proper aid to migrants. They
have promised to not only take in 800,000 migrants and refugees into its borders, more than
the entire European Union took in 2014 (approximately 600,000), but also the German
Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised the discontinuation of the Dublin Regulation, thus
granting asylum to any migrant or refugee that manages to reach German soil. Germany has
set an example for other European nations and has followed in the footsteps of countries like
Sweden, which have passed similar reforms. Germany has been able to acquire several
supporters, including countries like France and has shown its interest in preserving the
Schengen Zone, rather than abolishing it as advocated by some countries.
Main Issues
Xenophobia & Fear/Rejection of Islam
A controversial and rather taboo subject, xenophobia has been a major underlying theme
within European nations. With the large hit the EU faced due to the Financial Crisis of 2008,
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many, if not most, of the nations within the continent were left in terrible economic shape.
This created a slight snowball effect leading to the rise of extremist nationalist groups and
consequently growing levels of xenophobia. It is the case of the Front Nationale in France,
the Lega Nord in Italy and the UKIP in the UK. This was made abundantly clear by several
nations upon the arrival of migrant refugees on their soil. One prominent example of this is
the building of a very controversial “wall” in Hungary. Implemented by the ruling populist
party in Hungary (Fidesz) and led by the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, this wall
was meant to keep migrants and refugees out of the country. As he explained, his people
wanted to, “preserve a Hungarian Hungary”. Building on this point, there is also an evident
fear of Islam present specifically in eastern European nations. Many of these nations
including Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, have openly stated their preference for non-Islamic
migrants and refugees. Slovakia for example has openly stated it would rather take Christian
followers, as they believe they could help them more than followers of Islam. That being
said, in an interview with the BBC, the Slovak Spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior
stated that due to a lack of mosques in the country and a very small Muslim community,
they believe they wouldn’t be able to help them as efficiently as Christians, what make up
the majority of their current population. This issue has become more important and urgent
after the Paris attacks the 13 of November 2015.
Existing Policies & Egoism
Another issue that is causing a lot of debate within the European Union is the current
existing ratified policies on the issue of refugees. Specifically through laws like the Dublin
Regulation, many nations have been largely and negatively affected by the arrival of
migrants and refugees. The Dublin Regulation essentially states that a migrant without
permission or a grant for asylum, must stay in the first country they arrive in until they
receive proper documentation for asylum within another country. Until then they are stuck
in the first nation they step foot in. Logically, most migrants and refugees coming from war
stricken zones lack the time or ability to file the appropriate paperwork and are thus forced
to stay in the first countries they land in. This has caused for a very large burden to be put on
a small number of nations, primarily Italy and Greece. Coincidentally and unfortunately for
these nations, they were among the Europeans nations to have suffered the most from the
Financial crisis of 2008, leaving them with very unstable economies. With the added worry
of thousands of refugees located on their coasts, with more coming each day, these nations
have been unable to provide any solutions to the issue. Additionally, many European nations
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have proven their egoism in not helping their fellow member states. Simply benefiting off of
the clauses in the Dublin Regulation, several of the more developed nations have been
reluctant to help and have quite simply not done so. The one exception is Germany, who
discontinued the Dublin Regulation and agreed to take in 800,000 migrants and refugees, in
an effort to release the burden off of countries like Italy and Greece.
Countries of Origin
One issue that seems fairly obvious is the current situations in the countries of origin. As
previously mentioned several times, one of, if not the leading factor pushing people away
from their countries, is indeed what is happening in said countries. Whether it be war like in
Syria or Iraq, or the totalitarian rules in countries like Eritrea, everyday citizens are leaving
their homelands to join Europe in hope for a better life. Considering that these issues are still
taking place and a solution has not been found to put an end to them, refugees and migrants
are still leaving their countries. Moreover, they will continue to do so until a solution is
found to put an end to these unfortunate events. Though it may not be the primary concern at
the moment for the EU, by attacking the root of the problem, the number of people coming
into the EU could be drastically reduced.
Useful links
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33131893
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34128263
http://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/wmr2015_en.pdf
http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2015/10/01/le-hcr-prevoit-700-000-migrants-en-europe-en2015_4780252_3214.html
http://europa.eu/publications/statistics/index_en.htm
http://epthinktank.eu/2015/04/27/irregular-immigration-in-the-eu-facts-and-figures/
http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868
http://tg24.sky.it/tg24/mondo/2011/03/19/libia_coalizione_europa_francia_italia_gran_bretagna_us
a_paesi_arabi.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13755445
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34155701
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3334742/Germany-admits-Migrant-crisis-fault-Country-sEU-commissioner-says-generous-asylum-magnet-refugees.html
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