Italy-Libya Memorandum: 5 years of illegality and crimes against humanity, over 40 organizations in the streets to stop pushbacks and violence

ROME – If by 2 November the Italian government does not decide on its revocation, the Memorandum Italy – Libya it will be automatically renewed for another 3 years. For this reason, over 40 organizations are asking Italy and Europe to recognize their responsibilities and not to renew the agreements with Libya, a country that is anything but safe, in the hands of a political class obviously unable to take care of its citizens. and shaken by growing tensions involving the population itself, local militias, the political class and various regional foreign powers, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

100 thousand people intercepted and in the hands of the torturers. Five years after the Italy-Libya Memorandum, the impact on the lives of migrant men, women and children is tragic. Since 2017 almost 100,000 people have been intercepted at sea by the Libyan Coast Guard and forcibly returned to Libya, a country that can be defined in many ways, but certainly not safe. The lives of migrants and refugees in Libya are at risk, amid arbitrary detention, abuse, violence and exploitation. It means having no rights and no protection. “Italy and the European Union – reads a document released by Amnesty International and signed by more than 40 organizations – they continue to use more and more public resources in Libya and to consider it a country with which they can enter into agreements, within a complex system based on policies of externalization of borders, which delegates to countries of origin and transit the management of migratory flows, with the economic support and collaboration of the EU and the Member States. The Italy – Libya Memorandum creates the conditions for the violation of the rights of migrants and refugees by facilitating practices of exploitation and torture such as to constitute crimes against humanity ”.

Over 100 million of public money to the Libyan coast guard. The Memorandum provides for support for the Libyan Coast Guard, through funds, means and training. Continuing to support it means not only contributing directly and materially to the pushback of men, women and children but also supporting detention centers where people are subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, abused and killed. Since 2017, the Libyan Coast Guard has received over 100 million in training and equipment (57.2 million since Trust Fund for Africa and 45 million only through the dedicated Italian military mission). Public money and resources for cooperation and development, used instead for the strengthening of borders, without any safeguarding of human rights, nor any monitoring and review mechanism required by EU financial rules. Equally, the resources used for the implementation of humanitarian interventions have not balanced the crimes against humanity that are committed through the Memorandum.

The current situation in Libya. It must be reiterated that Libya cannot be considered a safe place. The political framework is unstable, and violence against the population is growing every year, as is the number of displaced people. In the country it is impossible to provide protection for vulnerable people. Safe and legal options to escape are limited in both access and numbers, so much so that many people decide to embark on a return trip by land – particularly seasonal workers from neighboring countries – running risks similar to those already faced. to reach Libya. Many others, however, try to cross the Mediterranean, paying sums set aside with jobs often carried out in inhumane conditions, and facing dangerous journeys, in which the probability of drowning is as high as that of being intercepted and rejected.

The signatory organizations:

Rightfully so, ACAT Italia, ACLI, ActionAid, Agenzia Habeshia, Alarm Phone, Amnesty International Italia, AOI, ARCI, ASGI, Baobab Experience, Centro Astalli, CGIL, CIES, CINI, Civicozero onlus, CNCA, Truth and Justice Committee for New Desaparecidos, Pope John XXIII Community, CoNNGI, Cospe, FCEI, Focus House of Social Rights, Migrantes Foundation, Emergency, EuroMed Rights, Europasilo, Intersos, Democratic Judiciary, Mani Rosse Antirazziste, Doctors of the World Italy, Mediterranean, Doctors Without Borders, Italian Movement Without Citizenship, Open Arms, Oxfam Italia, Refugees Welcome Italia, ResQ – People Saving People, Save the Children, Sea Watch, Senza Confine, SIMM, UIL, UNIRE, Un Ponte per.