Migreurop: 20 years of fighting against deadly migration policies

Migreurop is organizing a public conference in Rabat on November 14, 2025, entitled “Migreurop: 20 Years of Struggle Against Deadly Migration Policies.”
This conference will look back on two decades of activism and allow Migreurop to reaffirm its commitment to closing migrant detention camps and defending freedom of movement, while also opening up discussions on the future of migration-related struggles.

📍 Union marocaine du travail, Avenue Jean Jaurès, Rabat, Morocco
🕕 4.30pm-8.30pm
🎉 The conference will be followed by a buffet and a concert of Africa Fusion Music.

Program :

Introduction: Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), Co-chair Migreurop

I/ 20 years of deadly migration policies

A. Detention of foreigners, a key tool at the core of European migration control

• The functioning and evolution of detention: from formal to informal - Laure Palun, Anafé

• Detention and sorting – towards hotspots - Vasilis Psomos, Lesvos Legal Centre

B. Bargaining to repress mobility: externalization and violence beyond European borders

• The evolution of externalization: from readmission agreements to soft law - Claire Rodier, Gisti

• Criminalisation of migration and its facilitation, racism and externalisation of asylum - Romdhane Ben Amor

II/ Connecting and consolidating forces: looking back on 20 years of struggle at Migreurop

A. A transcontinental dynamic: building the collective strength of the network

• An expanding network: members from 18 countries - Mikel Araguas, SOS Racismo, Spain

• The Euro-African identity of the network - Amadou M’bow, Migreurop

• Consolidating a common front thanks to our supporters - Houda Benmbarek, Global Human Rights Fund (FDHM)

B. 20 years of struggle: Migreurop’s flagship activities

• Mapping as a key tool for analysis - Lucie Bacon, Migreurop

• The rights of people on the move at sea: the Boats4People coalition - Anne-Sophie Wender, La Cimade

• Iconic campaigns on the detention of foreigners and the European agency Frontex - Eva Ottavy, La Cimade / Migreurop

III/ Facing up: prospects for struggle and strategies for resistance

• Migreurop slogans (For the closure of foreigner camps – 2010, and for freedom of movement – 2013) - Sophie-Anne Bisiaux, Co-chair Migreurop

• How can we fight in a context where solidarity is criminalised? - Hamadou Tcherno, AEC Niger

• Strategies for institutional struggle - Amandine Bach, Political Advisor, The Left Group in the European Parliament

• Inter-association strategy - Cécile Vanderstappen, CNCD 11.11.11

Conclusion: Valentina Zagaria, Co-chair Migreurop

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Photo credit: Pauline Tournier