The interior ministers of Italy, Germany and France, as well as the EU Commissioner for Refugees Dimitris Avramopoulous, demanded on Monday a code of conduct for migrant rescue NGOs. They ignore the fact that such a code already exists: the international law of the sea. Furthermore, a broader code of conduct has already been agreed by NGOs and the International Maritime Rescue Federation – so there is no need for any further action.
“It would now be more important to ensure that further support for the so-called Libyan Coastguard is contingent on them also keeping to the code of behaviour for rescue in the Mediterranean. The Libyan Coastguard continues to violate the international law of the sea and the 1951 Refugee Convention. In this instance, there are no effective control mechanisms from the side of the EU, even though people have died as a direct consequence of the illegal actions of this very same EU-financed coastguard. Instead of further smear campaigns against maritime rescue organisations, which are clearly intended to mask political failures, it is essential that real solutions for the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean are developed. We need safe and legal passage and a European rescue fleet immediately”, says Sea-Watch board member Frank Dörner.
Sign our petition here for a code of conduct of Libyan Coast Guards here: https://sea-watch.org/en/petition-end-eu-financed-violence-against-refugees-and-migrants-by-the-libyan-coastguard/
