“Europe has grown accustomed to the cries of those trying to reach the shore” (Vincent Delecroix)
Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Humans Rights recognizes asylum as a mechanism for those fleeing persecution. However, this principle, originally conceived to protect lives at risk, has become one of the most contentious issues on global political agendas. In many countries, the debate has been shaped by security-centered narratives, relegating the humanity of those seeking protection to the background.
The IOM estimates that, in 2024, approximately 120 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide. Of these, 36.9 million crossed an international border in search of refuge, while 83.4 million remained displaced within their own countries. At every stage of displacement, millions face extreme risks, including exploitation, violence, and trafficking networks that turn human vulnerability into a profitable business.
In this context, the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum (EPMA) introduces ten binding regulations that fundamentally reshape how the European Union manages its borders, processes applications for international protection, and allocates responsibilities among Member States. Organizations such as OXFAM Intermón have warned about the risks of adopting an externalization approach that shifts migration governance and reception responsibilities to third countries through funding agreements. Legal concerns also remain regarding the border screening procedure. Human Rights Watch has pointed out that, because screening is conducted in closed facilities, it may result in de facto deprivation of liberty.
Furthermore, confinement in migrant reception, retention, or detention facilities has specific consequences for women. According to the report “Experiences and challenges faced by migrant women affected by immigration detention, 2025”, published by the International Detention Coalition and UN Women, overcrowding and the lack of gender-segregated spaces increase the risk of harassment and gender-based violence. These conditions are compounded by deficiencies in comprehensive healthcare, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, prenatal care, and basic menstrual hygiene products.
From a psychosocial perspective, deprivation of liberty in administrative settings can reactivate previous trauma associated with violence experienced in countries of origin. The absence of specialized female staff and the application of punitive approaches further exacerbate the vulnerability of women seeking asylum, undermining their fundamental rights throughout the assessment of their claims. This well-documented reality is also sensitively portrayed in the film Dreamers (2025) directed by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, which illustrates how uncertainty, fear, and the lack of adequate safeguards can profoundly shape the experiences of migrant women trapped in formal asylum procedures that fail to address their specific needs.
An investigation published by Le Monde documents the testimonies of women who experienced depression and severe psychological distress after spending months in the Administrative Detention Centre (CRA) of Metz-Queuleu, France, where adult women and men in an irregular migration situation, as well as asylum seekers, are detained. Although its name suggests that it is a facility where migrants are held while their legal status is resolved through administrative procedures, it is in fact a detention centre rather than a temporary reception facility. Considering that many of those detained are people fleeing threatening and life-threatening situations in their countries of origin who have endured long and arduous journeys under precarious conditions, instead of finding safety, stability, and guidance as they begin a new chapter, they often encounter environments that further exacerbate psychological risks.
Although the European Pact on Migration and Asylum (EPMA) requires the early identification of applicants with specific vulnerabilities including women, persons with disabilities, and minors, in practice, it remains essential to listen to and learn from the accumulated experience of organizations, communities, and migrant women themselves. Incorporating these lessons into policy and practice is crucial to ensuring that immigration detention no longer reproduces vulnerabilities that can and should be prevented.
States have the sovereign right to manage their borders. However, as the United Nations has emphasized, a well-managed migration system grounded in human rights principles addresses legitimate security concerns while ensuring respect for the rights of refugees and migrants. Protecting these rights is not merely a regulatory option; it is a cornerstone of the rule of law and international solidarity. The law may establish procedures, but when, in the name of protecting some, it allows the violation of the rights of others, it ceases to be an instrument of justice and becomes a practice that must be transformed.
At Camino Vital Foundation, we reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights of people on the move, convinced that no migration policy can be considered legitimate unless it first recognizes the inherent dignity of those who migrate. We therefore continue to document and raise awareness of both the initiatives that strengthen migrants' rights and the situations of discrimination, instrumentalization, and rights violations they face in contexts of migration and forced displacement. In a debate where the essential is too often overlooked, we insist on what matters most: people that migrate are people, with stories, fears, and hopes. They deserve respect and to be treated with dignity.
“Letting people die is the outcome of indifference and
refusal to see migrants as singular human beings"
(Vincent Delecroix).
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