7 February 2025
We are pleased to announce two new and impactful publications in our Series: No. 26 and No. 27.
- ACMRL Migration Law Series No. 26 written by Inga Broerse, titled "The Italy-Albania Agreement: Externalising Asylum Procedures in Violation of Human Rights" (2024), addresses pressing concerns about the evolving landscape of asylum procedures in Europe.
Inga's thesis provides a critical analysis of the agreement signed between Italy and Albania, which facilitates the transfer of asylum seekers rescued at sea to Albanian territory. This agreement raises significant questions about compliance with human rights standards, as Albania is not bound by EU human rights legislation. Inga's research examines the implications of this agreement, particularly in relation to procedural rights and the fundamental principle of non-refoulement, which protects individuals from being returned to countries where they may face danger.
The publication also highlights the broader context of the EU's increasing tendency to externalise asylum responsibilities, a trend that has significant implications for the rights and protections afforded to vulnerable individuals seeking refuge. By comparing the Italy-Albania agreement with international examples of external processing, Inga provides valuable insights into the potential human rights implications of such policies and the legal obligations of EU Member States.
Inga's work is an important contribution to the ongoing discourse on migration law and human rights, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency. We invite everyone to read Inga's contribution. The abstract and full PDF version of her publication are available on our webpage and can be downloaded here.
- ACMRL Migration Law Series No.27 authored by Lourdes W. Melese, titled "The Politics of Civilian (Im)mobility: Movement Management Strategies in Western Syria" (2024), provides a compelling examination of the complex and often devastating impact of conflict on civilian movement.
Focusing on western Syria from 2018 to 2022, Lourdes's research reveals how both state and non-state actors in the region have strategically controlled civilian movement to gain political, military, and economic advantage. Using a qualitative content analysis of reports, Lourdes examines various movement management strategies - such as forced displacement, restrictive checkpoints, and sieges. She shows how these tactics are used to control populations. Her analysis sheds light on how these tactics are instrumentalised in conflict zones to either force civilians to stay or to force them to leave, often with serious consequences for their safety and freedom.
This work highlights the significant legal and ethical issues raised by these strategies, which often violate international humanitarian and human rights law. Lourdes' study brings critical awareness to the ways in which civilian mobility is manipulated and contested as tool of warfare.
Lourdes' research is important to our understanding of migration law and the intersection of human rights and conflict dynamics. We encourage readers to delve into Lourdes' findings. The abstract and full PDF version of her publication are available on our website and can be downloaded here.