Humanitarian corridors as legal pathways to protection : lessons for Malta

Abstract

This study seeks to offer insight into Malta's latent plausible lessons from the Italian model of Humanitarian Corridors. This potential multi-stakeholder commitment has the capacity to provide valuable elements of alternative engagements with protection. With this purpose in mind, the case study for this research delves into the humanitarian corridors initiative established by the Italian Federation of Evangelical Churches, the Community of Sant'Egidio and the Waldensian Church, in collaboration with the Italian Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. The backdrop for this is the exploration of international and domestic laws that confer the right to asylum. The approach taken is comparative and actor-oriented and is supported by semi-structured interviews with influential stakeholders in Malta. Eventually, this paper will feature the presumed European Union's pledge as part of the International Law commitment to respect human rights and the many ways in which it failed to sustain such obligations. The purpose of this study is to serve as an inspiration and to conceivably support debates around the potential validity of humanitarian corridors and the prospects of Malta in assuming itself as part of this multi-stakeholder commitment to bolster safe and legal pathways to protection.