Human Rights do not end in the Mediterranean
As a human rights observer, Louis (27) is accompanying the current 17th mission aboard Humanity 1. He is studying international migration and intercultural relations. Louis is certain that the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean is politically generated and intentional. This makes it all the more important to document human rights violations so that society becomes aware of them.
Before the mission:
What does humanity mean to you and why are you committed to search and rescue?
To me, humanity means being there for one another. This also means that as a society, we have both a social and political responsibility. We can contribute to this through civilian search and rescue.
You have already worked as an intern in the communications department of SOS Humanity. What motivated you to join this mission as a human rights observer? How did you prepare for this role?
I have been following the legal and political situation of migration across the Mediterranean for a long time. The role of the human rights observer therefore aligns well with my experiences and interests. During my internship, I also had the opportunity to visit the rescue ship Humanity 1 in the port of Syracuse and meet some of the crew members there. Being on the ship made me feel more connected to a mission in action.
What are your expectations, hopes and concerns regarding the upcoming mission?
To be honest, I have no expectations, as the mission can take many different turns. Of course, I hope we can carry out our rescues successfully and bring everyone on board safely. However, the so-called Libyan Coast Guard may interfere with our rescues, the Italian authorities might assign us distant ports, or our rescue ship, Humanity 1, could be detained in Italy immediately after we bring rescued people ashore. These are all concerns that I carry with me into the mission.
After the mission:
It is your job to document human rights violations. Can you tell us about your experiences during the mission?
During the mission, it became evident how Italy, Malta, and the EU systematically ignore maritime law and human rights. We witnessed several distress situations in the Maltese Search and Rescue Zone. These are cases where Malta is required to either carry out or coordinate the rescue. We tried to reach Malta through various channels but never received a response. I got the feeling that Malta was deliberately ignoring distress situations to avoid responsibility.
What are the consequences if maritime emergencies are ignored by the responsible states?
Above all, waiting costs us valuable time; time in which people could drown or be illegaly intercepted and taken to Libya. The so-called Libyan Coast Guard is now also conducting pull-backs in the Maltese SAR zone, which is illegal. On the one hand, because they are not responsible in this zone; on the other hand, because people in distress must be brought to a place of safety, and Libya is not considered a safe place.
And what role does Italy play in this?
The communication with Italy is also not always easy. One example: During the night, after our first rescue, we were on our way to help the sailing ship Astral. They had been assisting an unseaworthy boat but didn’t have the capacity to take the people on board themselves. When we arrived, we found out that the Italian Coast Guard was already conducting the rescue. Of course, that was good news. But when we are not informed by the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, it costs us several hours of travel time. That is time in which we could have already brought the previously rescued people ashore.
According to applicable maritime law, rescued people must be brought to the nearest safe port, a so-called Place of Safety. Is this right being upheld?
After both rescues, Italy assigned us distant ports – one of them in Ravenna, over 1600 km away from the location of our rescue. This is a violation of maritime law. Every day, we asked Italy for the assignment of a closer port, but we were always refused. In the end, with over 70 people on board, some of whom had to sleep on deck in the rain, it took us five days to reach Ravenna.
What challenges did you face as a human rights observer during the mission?
The biggest challenge was the frustration that such situations cause. Since we are dependent on Italy and Malta, we rely on their decisions. We are well-equipped and trained, and we have much greater capacity to carry out rescues. But we are simply not being allowed to do so. It became clear to me that:
Would you like to tell us about a particularly impactful moment during the mission?
The first people we were able to rescue, we found purely by chance. Together with another crew member, I was standing with my binoculars on the top deck. The boat was barely visible on the horizon, just a tiny speck, but when it moved, we realized it was an unseaworthy boat. After that, I was on the bridge documenting the rescue and I just functioned under adrenaline. It wasn’t until the evening that I realized the significance of our search. Just a little later and it would have already been dark. We wouldn’t have seen the boat then. In the end, we rescued 43 people, including a pregnant woman and a child. We don’t know what might have happened to them otherwise or if anyone would have even noticed the possible shipwreck.
As you just mentioned, among the rescued people, there are often children. What impact does Europe’s closed-door policy have on children?
This reminds me of a moment on deck that really touched me. I had just been playing with a child. We didn’t share a common language, but we drew together and looked at picture books. Then, we came across a report from SOS Humanity. The child pointed at a photo – an overcrowded boat with people wearing life vests – and then pointed at itself. It was able to directly recognize the scene it had experienced just the day before on the water. It’s shocking what these children’s eyes have already seen.
Human rights are increasingly under pressure, both at sea and on land. How does this affect search and rescue, and what would you advise people who want to get involved but are unsure how they can help?
It is obvious that Malta, Italy, and the EU are trying to obstruct search and rescue ships to take in as few refugees as possible. On the one hand, by financing the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, and on the other, by keeping us away from the operational area, as we are constantly forced to travel to distant ports. For us, this is not only time-consuming but also costly. So, the easiest way to get involved would be to donate. In addition, the more people get involved in search and rescue, the stronger we are! You can talk to your friends about the operations and violations of the law, thus raising awareness. Because Italy and Malta must come under political and legal pressure in order to comply with the law.
Thank you, Louis, for the interview!
