Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

A court in Crotone, Italy, has sentenced three men to prison for their involvement in the tragic Cutro shipwreck of 2023, which claimed the lives of at least 94 migrants, including children. The court handed sentences ranging from 11 to 16 years to the defendants for aiding illegal immigration, although they were acquitted of charges directly related to causing the shipwreck. The tragedy occurred when the vessel, named “Summer Love,” ran aground near Steccato di Cutro, about 100 meters from the shore. At least ten passengers remain missing. Among the sentenced were two Pakistani nationals, 22-year-old Hasab H. and 26-year-old…

Over 1,000 unaccompanied children in Greece’s migrant camps are at risk of abuse and exploitation. This follows government cuts that reduced spaces in child accommodation centers from 2,500 to 1,500 earlier this year. Human rights groups warn that these children are living in unsafe conditions, violating their basic rights and exposing them to more harm. Sofia Kouvelaki, head of the Home Project, an organization that helps refugee children, said the situation is urgent. She explained that children should not be staying in camps with adults, as this increases their risk of violence and makes their trauma worse. A shocking case…

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has revealed the winners of the 2024 Global Media Competition on Labour Migration to commemorate International Migrants Day on December 18. The competition, which highlights the importance of balanced and ethical reporting, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and drew over 430 entries from 92 countries. This year, the competition introduced a special prize for reporting on forced labour, marking the tenth anniversary of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention. Migrant workers are recognized as being three times more vulnerable to forced labour than national workers, emphasizing the importance of quality journalism…

Isatta Bah, a 24-year-old from Sierra Leone, spends her days in a crowded shelter on the outskirts of Beirut, waiting for an exit visa. Holding her one-year-old daughter, Blessing, she dreams of reuniting with her family after enduring harsh work conditions, abuse, and the recent war in Lebanon. “My experience in Lebanon is not good for me. I am really tired,” Bah said. “I want to go home.” Hundreds of migrant workers like Bah are trying to leave Lebanon following a ceasefire that ended the 14-month conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Many of these workers came to Lebanon seeking better…

New Zealand’s government wants to make changes to its golden visa program to bring in more wealthy migrants. This visa, called the Active Investor Plus Visa, was once very popular and helped the country gain an average of NZ$1 billion yearly. But after the rules changed in 2022, interest in the program dropped. Only 35 people have fully applied in the last two years, bringing in just NZ$352 million. Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the 2022 changes made it harder for investors and that the government will soon announce new plans to improve the visa program. Right now, applicants must…

Immigration laws in Europe and the Americas are facing major changes as countries in both regions deal with rising migration numbers and shifting political climates. The future of these laws will depend on how countries address the challenges of border control, refugee protection, and integration, while balancing security and humanitarian needs. In Europe, immigration laws are likely to become stricter, especially with the ongoing refugee crisis. Millions of people continue to arrive, many fleeing conflict zones in the Middle East and Africa, while others seek better economic opportunities. The European Union (EU) has proposed reforms to create a more unified…

Activists and elected officials gathered outside the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul in Albany on Monday to protest the closure of two hotels currently housing hundreds of migrants in the state’s capital region. The Ramada Plaza and Holiday Inn Express, both funded by the New York City government, are set to shut down by the end of the month, leaving many of the migrants facing eviction. The protest organizers urged the Governor to step in and prevent the evictions, calling for emergency state funding to provide continued shelter and support services for the migrants. During the rally, Angelica…

Poland is under intense criticism for alleged inhumane treatment of migrants trying to cross its border with Belarus. Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report detailing how Polish border guards have reportedly forced migrants back into Belarus, sometimes violently, while denying them access to asylum procedures. These actions, HRW claims, violate international and European human rights laws. The report highlights accounts of abuse and harsh conditions faced by migrants. Testimonies from asylum seekers reveal that they were subjected to physical violence, confiscation of belongings, and forced expulsions. In some cases, migrants were coerced into signing documents they did not understand,…

Ibrahima Bah, an asylum seeker convicted for the deaths of four migrants during a boat crossing in the English Channel, has lost his attempt to appeal. The Court of Appeal rejected his case, upholding his original nine-and-a-half-year sentence. Bah was convicted in February 2024 for manslaughter and facilitating a breach of UK immigration law. The charges stemmed from a tragic event in December 2022 when Bah piloted an overcrowded dinghy trying to cross the Channel. The boat, carrying 43 passengers, capsized, resulting in four people losing their lives. In court, Bah claimed he had been forced to steer the vessel…

HealthServe, a charity in Singapore, is working to improve the mental health of migrant workers by growing its peer support network. Since 2021, it has trained nearly 1,300 migrant workers as peer support leaders. These leaders help by recognizing signs of distress, offering support, and guiding their peers to the right resources. The training sessions are tailored to the workers’ needs, conducted in their native languages like Tamil, Bengali, Burmese, and Mandarin. This initiative empowers participants to provide early intervention within their communities, bridging cultural and linguistic barriers that often deter workers from seeking help. One example is Alauddin MD,…