The policy brief discusses the increasing roles of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in assisting refugees and migrants in coping with the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. The expansion of such tasks is due to the lack of state capabilities and in response to the militarisation of border and asylum policies. By analysing the major consequences imposed by the pandemic on the EU migration policies and the states’ approaches, it is here sustained that civil society organisations, particularly NGOs, have complemented governmental responses, by mitigating their inconsistency and inhuman feature. Other than providing relief and assistance and helping vulnerable people to respect lockdowns, NGOs are trying to use public spaces, opened by the pandemic, to promote policy debates, innovations and reforms. The continuation of non-governmental search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Central Mediterranean remains the most important and controversial challenge. In the end, the policy brief sustains that, although it remains a tragedy, the pandemic can also be considered as an opportunity for rethinking policies and practices—further research on whether and how political reforms will be discussed and promoted are required.

NGOs in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on migrants and refugees: A reopening of public space

Daniela Irrera
2020-01-01

Abstract

The policy brief discusses the increasing roles of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in assisting refugees and migrants in coping with the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. The expansion of such tasks is due to the lack of state capabilities and in response to the militarisation of border and asylum policies. By analysing the major consequences imposed by the pandemic on the EU migration policies and the states’ approaches, it is here sustained that civil society organisations, particularly NGOs, have complemented governmental responses, by mitigating their inconsistency and inhuman feature. Other than providing relief and assistance and helping vulnerable people to respect lockdowns, NGOs are trying to use public spaces, opened by the pandemic, to promote policy debates, innovations and reforms. The continuation of non-governmental search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Central Mediterranean remains the most important and controversial challenge. In the end, the policy brief sustains that, although it remains a tragedy, the pandemic can also be considered as an opportunity for rethinking policies and practices—further research on whether and how political reforms will be discussed and promoted are required.
2020
2619-9440
European Union
Legitimacy
NGOs
Migrants
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/502979
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