Mediterranean migrations: NGO as the voice of the voiceless?

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea has always represented a unique melting pot of cultures and peoples, holding a strategic position: since the mid-1990s it has been the preferred route for migrants to reach the European continent. Adverse weather conditions overcrowded and illegal routes, as well as the difficult management of the emergency by the EU, make the Mediterranean one of the most dangerous routes, with reports of migrant accidents being an everyday occurrence. Since 2014, approximately 29.000 migrants have gone missing or died in the Mediterranean, with the highest number of fatalities recorded in 2016 and the central route (UNHCR, 2022). The complexity of the situation indicates how it cannot be solved solely by the countries most affected by the phenomenon: indeed, cooperation and coordination with states, NGOs, and other maritime agencies are nec­essary. NGOs play a central role in the management of the situation, with the Council of Europe calling on states to cooperate constructively with NGOs to ensure the effective protection of human rights. Approximately 38 NGO ships conducted SAR operations in the Mediterranean Sea between 2016 and 2022 (FRA). This research aims to analyze the online communication of the pre-eminent NGOs that operate in the Mediterranean Sea. Greater importance is attributed to communication strategies: through them, organiza­tions can spread their values and promote their actions, while raising public awareness. Thus, the focus is on the core online communication tactics used to achieve their goals.