Chapter 1 Migrant Deaths: An International Overview
1.6 Keeping count: Why we need better data “It is imperative to begin a process to identify and account for the thousands of ‘missing’ undocumented migrants, who disappear – on the journey or after arrival – and whose identities are unknown.” (Council of Europe, Commissioner for Human Rights, 2007) The need for improved death counts and identification of those who die during migration is not a new demand; indeed it has been articulated by the European Council (Stockholm Programme, para. 6 and 6.1.6), the Council of Europe (Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1467 (2000); Commissioner for Human Rights, 2007 issue paper), IOM, UNHCR, Amnesty International, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and numerous other IOs, NGOs, community groups, activists and scholars. 1.6.1 Greater accountability and action For one, more accurate data serve to highlight the magnitude of deaths and, through this, to spur greater action to prevent them. Data has the power to capture attention, and while counts of border-related deaths will always be estimates, they serve to make concrete something which has been left vague and ill-defined. As Weber and Pickering note in Chapter 6, while numbers are subject to competing claims, “[...]they at least provide a foundation for debate and accountability.” Politically, the availability official data is important. Lack of political commitment at national and international levels to record and account for the deaths of migrants both reflects and contributes to a general lack of concern more broadly for the safety and well-being of irregular migrants and asylum-seekers arriving by irregular means and contributes to public apathy, ignorance, and the dehumanization of these groups. Greater attention to human rights abuses, including the right to life, of migrants and asylum-seekers can encourage States to assume responsibility. 1.6.2 More accurate determination of causes and effective response Additionally, data is crucial to better understand the profiles of those who are most at risk and to tailor policies to better assist these migrants and prevent loss of life. To what extent are practices and regulations surrounding surveillance and rescue at sea sufficient and effective? The Mediterranean, for example, is among one of the busiest seas in the world and yet there are still cases in which boats in distress are not assisted in time for lives to be saved, or are not assisted at all.13 Despite positive steps, such as Italy’s Mare Nostrum Project implemented 13
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One of the most shocking incidents occurred in 2011 in what has become known as the “left-to-die boat”. Seventy-two migrants leaving from Tripoli ran out of fuel and were left to drift for 14 days despite distress calls being sounded and their vessel's position being made known to European authorities and NATO ships. With no water or food on-board, only nine of the migrants were still alive by the time the boat drifted back to Libyan shores. See C. Heller, L. Pezzani and SITU Studio, Forensic Oceanography: Report on the “Left-ToDie Boat” (2011).
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