This time last year, a group of refugees were being denied entry into Malta as the Maltese government had stood firmly on its legal obligations.
It was not until January 9 that these men, women and children were finally allowed entry into the Maltese harbour after spending over 10 days out in the freezing winter weather.
2019 also saw two major police raids, one in Marsa and another in Bugibba, where a number of migrants were evicted from their accommodation. In both Marsa stables and Bugibba apartment blocks, migrants were paying €100 to €200 in monthly rent to live in ‘inhuman’ conditions. These men had to cook, wash and live in filthy, insect-infested spaces, some even sharing a room between seven people.
Last April also saw the assassination of 42 year old Lassana Cisse Souleymane in what could have been Malta’s first racially motivated murder. Even more shocking was that once soldiers Francesco Fenech and Lorin Scicluna have been accused of killing.
Speaking with The Malta Independent, Director of the Integra Foundation Maria Pisani was asked what improvements she wishes to see when it comes to the handling and planning of the migrant issue in 2020.
Among other things, she said that “we need urgent attention to the reception policy.”
“Starting the New Year, we still have families being told that their children must return ‘home’, a policy that negates the humanity of migrant workers and reinforces the dominant narrative that their presence in Malta is simply to fuel the economy,” explained Pisani. She highlighted that the ‘migrant’ issue is very broad, so she focused mainly on asylum seekers.
“We need urgent attention to the reception policy, children and asylum seekers are still being detained illegally. There has been no shift in policy following the Maltese court decision declaring the detention policy illegal (to be clear, people, including children, are being detained illegally and this is a clear violation of rights).” She pointed out that the Family Ministry can no longer deflect responsibility and needs to act urgently. “The situation is horrifying. We also need to see more investment in reception facilities and support for AWAS management and staff. Much more focus on supporting the transition from the Initial Reception Centre to open centres and open centres to life in the community,” said Pisani.
When asked what needs to be implemented if Malta is too adopt a long-term integration strategy, Pisani highlighted that one must look at inclusion. “I think inclusion begins with acknowledging and respecting the dignity and rights of every individual, as valued members of our community.” She highlighted that any strategy that looks towards inclusion must also include political inclusion, therefore participation and representation. “Until this happens, migrants will remain on the margins, convenient political scapegoats and dehumanised, sources of cheap, exploitable labour.” She highlighted that migrant workers and refugees continue to be employed in precarious work, which results in death and injury. “We have refugees who are forced to live in inhumane conditions and the authorities provide no viable alternatives and held no one to account.”
European Union; calling for solidarity or keeping unsustainable policies?
Shifting from the local scene, when asked whether the European Union is pulling enough weight on the issue of migrant and asylum seekers, Pisani stressed that the Union is not and that one should not expect much change.
“The EU policy is focused on strengthening external borders and containment. The focus will probably shift back to the Turkey border in response to new refugee movements.” She said that the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) consistently address the refugee movements within and beyond the external borders from a national perspective, which is grounded in a fear of the far right.
“To date, there has been very little appetite for solidarity with other member states, transit countries beyond the EU, and of course, and the refugees and for this reason; policies are unsustainable and doomed to fail. We will witness more violence at borders and more deaths, with the most vulnerable paying the biggest price.”
How will a long term plan improve the situation?
Time and time again NGO’s have called for a proper long term plan to improve the situation for migrants. Asked how such a plan will benefit not just migrants but society as a whole, Pisani said that the plan must recognise the rights of every single individual.
“All the incidents we saw are a result of structural injustices which are fuelled by an economic model that has little regard for the wellbeing of migrants or indeed the broader population of people living in precocity and poverty.” She explained that the long term plan must address 21st century challenges with a forward looking and sustainable response to reflect on new globalised interdependence and shared vulnerabilities.
“Before we make any changes, we need to pause and take a long look in the mirror. We need to ask who we and what, as individuals and a community, we are becoming into. What are the values we want to take on to shape and transform our future? Hatred and racism or open dialogue and integration?”