Organized by ICMC in the context of the DRIVE project, the workshop formed an integral part of efforts to initiate and strengthen networking and capacity-building among NGOs, local service providers and international and national institutions in Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain.  Special focus is given to the identification and referral of people in need of protection to appropriate support services at the moment of their arrival.

Interactive group sessions enabled practitioners and policy makers to exchange practices and experiences developed in the last years in the 4 participating countries, and consider mixed migration from a holistic point of view. Presentations over the course of the intensive three and a half-day meeting covered topics ranging from current and ideal humanitarian responses to people arriving by boat under extremely difficult conditions, to international, EU and national legal and political frameworks that inevitably shape reception processes, protection safeguards and access to support that addresses the specific needs of individuals that may be especially vulnerable, namely, victims of trafficking, survivors of trauma, asylum seekers and children. 

Exchange between the nearly 60 participants on the practices being implemented within their respective national and international contexts led to the common conclusion that current ad hoc responses in the 4 countries represented are not as efficient as proactive, consistent and transparent procedures involving a wide range of actors. 

To read more about the content of the regional workshop, please see the pdf programme below.

Program: Responding to boat arrivals and mixed migration flows in the Mediterranean, A regional workshop (307.71 KB)