In a bold move that has met with widespread criticism from international human rights organizations, Italy has recently signed a deal to deport some of its migrants to Albania.
The agreement signed on June 19by Italy and Albania seeks to facilitate the transfers of migrants detained on Italian soil back to their home country. The deal has been sharply criticized as a violation of Italy’s obligations under international law to protect the basic rights of migrants who have sought refuge in the country.
The Italian government stated that the migrants in question have all been convicted of criminal offenses in Italy. However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has pointed out that, under international law, this is insufficient reason for denying migrants their right to asylum. Furthermore, the Italian government is not providing sufficient safeguards to ensure that those returned to Albania are not subjected to further human rights violations.
Oxfam, a human rights organization, has denounced the agreement between Italy and Albania as “unwelcome and dangerous”. The organization further notes that Italy should not deport any individual without ensuring that the person would not be at risk of human rights violations in his or her home country. Amnesty International, meanwhile, has also criticized the agreement for failing to take into consideration the plight of migrants, particularly those seeking asylum, and warned that it “would risk putting them in danger”.
The deal between Italy and Albania has triggered widespread criticism from human rights groups, who have argued that it violates Italy’s international obligations to protect the rights of individuals in their territory. European Union countries are urged to find other ways of managing migration besides deporting individuals, most of whom are fleeing poverty and violence in their countries of origin. It is important that European nations uphold their international commitments to protect the human rights of all migrants, regardless of their legal status.