Dr. Ralph Wilde, a member of the Faculty of Laws at University College London, will speak at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute on Thursday, October 27 at 14:00 about his research project on extraterritorial application of international human rights law.
Thousands of people have perished in the dangerous sea crossings attempting to enter Europe and States are under more and more pressure from the public to rescue migrants at sea.
Meanwhile the idea that the principle of ‘non-refoulement’ – the obligation borne by a state not to transfer individuals from its control, if the individuals face a risk of serious human rights abuse – applies outside the territory of a given State is gaining increasing acceptance. Saving those who are at risk of losing their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean is no longer just a question of voluntary emergency rescue operations but an obligation under international law.
Some States argue that the non-refoulement obligation gives people an incentive to make dangerous sea crossings to obtain protection. They argue this ultimately benefit the smugglers and traffickers who arrange the crossings. That’s why States such as the UK have decided to entirely withdraw its support to rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. A policy with fatal consequences as it ultimately leaves people “to drown”, Dr. Wilde argues.
Dr Ralph Wilde is a member of the Faculty of Laws at University College London. He is currently engaged in an interdisciplinary research project on the extraterritorial application of international human rights law funded by the European Research Council.
The lecture is titled: “Let them drown”. Futures for the extraterritorial application of the non-refoulement obligation: the case of rescuing migrants making perilous sea crossings.”
Date and time: Thursday 27 October at 14:00-15:30
Venue: Pufendorf lecture hall, Lilla Gråbrödersgatan 3, Lund
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