Although migration in the Mediterranean has recently come up with greater interest in the media due to the dramatic increase of lives lost at sea trying to reach Europe, it is an ongoing phenomenon in the region.

Every year people move towards Europe seeking a better life or running away from conflicts or persecution. Participants in the Red Cross Red Crescent (RC/RC) Mediterranean Platform on Migration asserted "the importance of setting up structured approaches" because migration is a long term phenomenon; therefore "it should have both a regional approach and a global one".

On May 25th the RC/RC Platform on Migration gathered in San Marino to celebrate its annual meeting and to debate the issue of Migration in emergencie, with special emphasis on combating violence against migrants, and advocating in favour of their dignity and respect.

Increasing trends, new challenges

During the meeting, a number of National Societies recalled the difficulties in adapting their humanitarian response to the changing routes which increase migrants' vulnerabilities. In Greece for example a 12.5 km fence was built in 2012 along the Evros River, sealing the ground route from Turkey. The migratory trail therefore changed from land to sea, causing the arrival of migrants to the Greek islands after very risky journeys, and having paid more expensive prices to smugglers.

Along the migratory route, countries can be of origin, transit or destination. The respective RC/RC National Societies prepare their plans to assist and protect migrants, but as underlined in the debate, it is difficult to support and build longer term programmes with those who do not want to stay in one country and wish to move to a different location.

As reaffirmed by National Societies, more must be done with the local population to counter the stigmatization of migrants, while the contingency planning should not only include the needs of migrants, but also the involvement of authorities and include long term collaborations.

One voice

The Fundamental Principles, as related to advocacy in favour of migrants¿ dignity and respect, were also high on the agenda of the annual meeting. Mr. Francesco Rocca, Vice-president of IFRC and President of the Italian Red Cross argued that "Can it be considered as a breach of the neutrality principle when we advocate? Advocacy has to be seen as our precise duty in recalling and moving governments from the stupor in front of the need, and the urgency that every rule and policy keeps human dignity at the core. If we position our fundamental principle of Humanity at the centre, it is never a breach of Neutrality."

On various occasions, the need for the Movement to have one common voice was stressed, in order for our advocacy actions to be more effective and engage institutions and public authorities in our humanitarian activities towards migrants. This is also crucial to improve the status quo which is witnessing an unacceptable increase of deaths along the routes to reach Europe, as well as the growing networks of smugglers and traffickers in human beings.

60 participants from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement took part in the event which was hosted by the Red Cross of the Republic of San Marino and coordinated by the Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean (CCM), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It stood as the follow-up of the previous editions held in Rome (2012), Barcelona (2013) and Tunis (2014). The Platform aims at strengthening the humanitarian response with regards to migration in the Mediterranean region through the following ongoing action points:

• The Mediterranean platform will continue to reflect upon the humanitarian situation in the region while focusing on the three distinctive domains of assistance, protection and advocacy with strong cross cutting elements of cooperation, coordination and partnership.
• Regional twinning between National Societies concerning programmes on migration to be fostered by the CCM in coordination with the IFRC and the ICRC;
• New possibilities to connect Migration into wider CCM work on youth trainings focusing - among others - on climate change.