Amnesty reiterates concern over possible human rights violations in Italy-Albania Protocol
Starting from the 14th of October 2024, the two centres for migrant persons set up by Italy in Albania have become operational. Their operation, announced by the Italian government, kick-started the plan set out in the Italy-Albania Protocol signed in November 2023. The Rome court, however, did not validate the migrants’ detention inside the center, thus requiring their return to Italy.
In these centers, in Shengjin and Gjader, migrants’ asylum applications would be processed by applying Italian and European jurisdiction even though they are on Albanian territory, and people awaiting deportation and repatriation will be detained under a form of extraterritorial administrative detention.
Amnesty International Italy is very concerned about possible human rights violations that may occur by implementing the Protocol. It stresses a potential violation by Italy of its international obligations, especially referring to generalized detention, automatic detention and search and rescue operations at sea.
These measures, in fact, head to the practice of externalization that is being implemented to manage migration flows and control borders, both at the national and European level through bilateral agreements, such as the Italy-Albania Protocol, the EU-Tunisia MoU and Italy-Libya.
Amnesty International points to various dangers associated with respect for human rights, such as the right to life, prohibition of arbitrary detention, and children's rights, that would occur with the implementation of these agreements. In particular, an analysis by Amnesty International published last January found the following risks:
- Risk of violations of the right to life and physical integrity of persons in distress at sea.
- Risk of violations of the rights of children and vulnerable persons, such as pregnant women, survivors of trafficking and torture and other individuals in need of specific care.
- Risk of violations of the right to personal freedom.
- Other risks of arbitrary detention.
- Risk of violation of the right to asylum and related procedural guarantees.