Migration & Refugees Working Group

Working Group Meeting - Cairo 2007

The question of the rights of Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees is a key issue for the Network

Presentation of the Migration and Asylum Working Group (MAWG)

The aim of the working group is to focus on issues related to the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees in the Euromed countries. Its purpose is to enhance the capacities of local civil society actors to include the issue of migrants and refugees’ protection (from a human rights’ perspective) as part of their advocacy priorities. This is, in part, done through the setting up of a regional network of civil society organisation active (or willing to do so) in the field of migrants’ and refugees’ protection.

History of the working group:

The protection of migrants and refugees has always been a priority for the EMHRN. During the last 10 years, the issue of migration and border control became a priority within the framework of the Euromed cooperation. The EMHRN organised in 2001 a regional seminar, in Trieste (Italy) on these questions. In 2005, the EMHRN managed, through the UNHCR, to secure funds for the purpose of launching a project on migrants and refugees’ protection. Since then, the EMHRN has collected funds, mainly from the European Commission and the Ford Foundation, to secure its activities in this field.

Methodology and activities:

The EMHRN has decided to set up a working group on migration and asylum (MAWG), composed of several representatives of civil society organisations active (or willing to do so) in the field of the protection and promotion of the human rights of migrants and refugees. The members of the group meet twice a year, each time in a different country. The meetings are utilised for several purposes:

- Develop an expertise about the situation of migrants and refugees in the different countries of the Euromed region

- Provide trainings on the human rights of migrants and refugees and on the existing protection mechanisms for migrants and refugees

- Provide trainings on the policy instruments developed in the framework of the Euromed cooperation; discuss these policy instruments and identify advocacy actions

- Agree on join actions

      - Enhance networking between the different actors and participants

For more information about the different working group meetings (agendas, working documents, etc) please refer to the MAWG blog: www.euromed-migrasyl.blogspot.com

Work is however not limited to the sole meetings. In between the meetings, several activities do take place. Concrete actions can be undertaken, though the EMHRN, via an Alert Mechanism that has been set up by the EMHRN and the members of its working group. The purpose of this Alert Mechanism is to allow civil society organisations to act on cases of migrants and refugees who are at risk of facing ill treatments as well as those who are denied their right to access international protection. It also aims at assisting human rights defenders persecuted because of their assistance actions to migrants and refugees. A blog on migration  and asylum has been created, where information is being posted (almost on a daily basis) on the situation of migrants and refugees in the different countries of the Euromed region. A regular newsletter on migration and asylum is also distributed. Field visits are regularly organised in the different countries of the Euromed region, for the purpose of networking and of collecting up-to-date information about the situation of migrants and refugees in the different countries. Finally, advocacy and networking meetings are organised on a regular basis, in Brussels (EU institutions) and elsewhere.

The MAWG Mandate:

The purpose of the EMHRN project is to enhance the capacities of local organizations to protect and promote the rights of migrants and refugees in the framework of the Euromed cooperation. It also seeks to reinforce networking, exchange of expertise and cooperation between the actors from the different countries from the shores of the Mediterranean sea (South-South, North-South and North-North cooperation). The activities of the working group are to be considered from this perspective. The objectives of the working group can thus be summarized as follows:

- Promote the respect of the rights of migrants and refugees in the Euromed region and follow-up on policies implemented in the region in the framework of the cooperation between the EU and the countries from the Mediterranean region.

- Favour networking between the different actors from the region

- Act as a platform of exchange and discussion between the actors of the two sides of the Mediterranean sea, on the protection of migrants and refugees.

- Constitute a forum for coordination and discussion of policies led, with the purpose of identifying advocacy and lobby possibilities in relation to the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees. Joint initiatives should in this perspective be encouraged.

- Ensure exchange of expertise between the different actors, with the purpose of increasing the knowledge of the different participants of issues related to migration and asylum in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Trainings on different subjects (European policies, Euromed cooperation, national policies, etc) are organised in this perspective.

The responsibilities of the working group include the following elements :

- Favor exchange between the members, including through the diffusion of information (press releases, reports, etc) relating to the situation of migrants and refugees in the Euromed region. Such information will be posted on the blog and/or included in the MAWG newsletter.

- Make suggestions as to actions in relation to the protection of migrants and refugees, notably in the framework of the Alert missions (AAMIR) established by the EMHRN, in full respect of the prerogatives of the Executive committee of the EMHRN.

-Take part in solidarity actions (or Alert missions) in the framework of initiatives launched by members of the WG, or other organizations.

- Formulating opinions to the EMHRN Executive committee as to positions that could be endorsed in relation to certain policies or events, relate to migration and asylum in the Euromed region. 

- Follow-up on the different studies launched by the EMHRN throughout the whole process of producing these studies.

- Follow-up on the policies implemented in the framework of the Euromed cooperation and undertake advocacy actions

Members of the working group :

The current MAWG has been established after a call for participation launched in January 2009. It is composed of several (permanent) members, representing different civil society organisations active (or willing to do so) in the field of the protection and promotion of the human rights of migrants and refugees. In addition to the permanent members, the EMHRN involves resource persons and/or organisations to the different activities, depending on their field of expertise.  

Committee for the defense of freedoms and human rights in Syria (CDF)		Alla Eddin Byassi
Comité pour le Respect des Libertés et des Droits de l’Homme en Tunisie (CRLDHT)		Mouhieddine Cherbib
Libyan League for Human Rights		Sliman Bouchuiguir
CLDH / SOLIDA		Marie Daunay
Palestinian Human Rights Organisation		Roula Badran
Freedom and Rights Association		Mine Yucel
Tunisian Association of Democratic Women		Hafidha Chékir
AMERA		Barbarra Harrell-Bond
Moroccan Association of Human RIghts		Hamid Bouhamidou
KISA		Doros Polykarpou
Democratic Association of Moroccan Women		Maria Ezzouini
Italian Refugee Council		Christopher Hein
Human Rights League		Catherine Teule
Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR)		Muayyad Mehyar
Tampere Peace Research Institute		Anitta Kynsilenko
Iraqi Human Rights Society		Ali Diwan
Greek Committee for International Democratic Solidarity		Marie Lavrentiadou Political Referent
ACSUR - Las Segovias		Alessia Angelini

This project is run from the EMHRN Project Office in Rabat, Morocco. For more info, contact the WG Coordinator, Chadi Sidhom.