Illegal migration and its subsequent danger and violation of international laws have become the only solution for many people. What is sad about this is that we are often used to men’s migration, but to see children and women trying to save themselves from drowning is a great pain.
“The fact that there are children among those at risk, and that we, unfortunately, have to recover a number of the bodies of those who died, tugs at our heartstrings. Children are symbols that embody hope in life, and in these circumstances we feel disappointment and pain, not euphoria and hope.”
– Michel Nyusi: Navy Commander, Italian Coast Guard. [1]
Of course, the movement of people is not something new. The migration of people, whether for asylum or for any other reasons, occurred in eras that even preceded what mankind wrote down in history. If we trace our origins long enough into the past, we will all find that we belong somewhere else.
But the question that arises strongly is: Is illegal immigration the only way?
Every year the scene of young men, children, and women drowning in the seas is repeated. Thousands of people fleeing war, persecution, and poverty at home attempt to make such a journey. Countless lives are lost. Death does not differentiate between an infant or a young person in the prime of his life. This tragic scene became more and more frequent at a time when any safe and legal option for everyone who wants to reach Europe is absent. These people became spoils for the human traffickers. [2]
In addition to the high prices that migrants have to pay, their journey is unsafe and fraught with danger. It starts with the Coast Guard intercepting the vessels and forcing them to return. In addition, many illegal vessels were subjected to the so-called interception or forced return by the naval forces. European countries have formed joint forces to block boats with refugees on board. They are subjected to a lot of persecution and violence in order to repatriate to their homeland without distinguishing between a child and a woman.
In the past few years, international organizations have registered a significant number of illegal immigrants. It cannot be said that all of these numbers of drowned people have been saved.
Many of those who chose illegal immigration took unsafe vessels which are unprepared to travel large distances as a way to reach Europe. After cruising for several kilometers, these boats stop leaving the women and children on board at sea. Rescue teams often do not come to help or come late so they succeed in helping only a few of them. [2]
Refugee protecting can be facilitated by initiatives that limit the number of people who take illegal migration as their path. Those who apply for asylum are unconvincing because they have no other legal access to another country. Prospective immigrants need to be better informed about the consequences of illegal immigration. This is about the new opportunities available to them to migrate in a legitimate and safe manner, such as expanded family reunification programs, and labor migration. [3]
Every year the world’s media report similar news about travelers who have been shot, or they were thrown off the board in the open sea, or they were beaten to death. In some cases, seafarers’ crews reported their superiors to the relevant authorities. In other cases, stowaways escaped and told their stories. However, prosecutions are very rare, as evidence of the crime is often lost in the depths of the ocean. Along with the reasons that gave rise to despair among parents, their children, and their women to the point that they had to leave their countries of origin illegally. [3]
Also read: Crimes Against Child Victims.
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References:
[2] MSF
[3] UNHCR