borderline-europe Human Rights without Borders e.V.
Gneisenaustr. 2a
10961 Berlin
Germany
- Human rights
Borderline-Europe is a non-profit organization with offices in Berlin and Palermo. In Berlin 3 employees working with the support of 2-3 interns and 20 and 25 volunteers. We are closely connected with other Human Rights Organisations focussing on asylum and migration. We are funded by private donations, applications to Foundations, and to the Europe for Citizens Program. Workshops and panel discussions are often supported by the Heinrich-Böll- respective by the Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation or the Evangelic Church. Our networking activities towards Northafrica are supported by Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen. Other public activities are organized in cooperation with different networks and CSO`s, or self-organized refugees. On average our yearly budget is around 150.000.- Euro. But a high percentage of our work is only possible through the activities and the engagement of our volunteers.
Some of us work full-time while others volunteer. We all have different experiences and expertise and combine these in our work. borderline-europe thrives on the initiative, exchange, and participation of everyone. Our mission and objectives are diverse ○ We research and produce comprehensive and reliable documentation on the events in the border regions. ○ We work in transnational networks, bring different actors together, and support civil society and activist collaborations. ○ We engage in direct humanitarian interventions. ○ We organize and support protests, events, and actions in local and transnational contexts. ○ We provide information online on our website and social media about current developments in the EU migration policy. ○ Our goal here is to present the increasingly complex migration policy and its effects to a broad public. We want to create an active, political, and critical awareness that can counteract the racist structures and the deadly consequences of isolation policy. We are sending a signal of solidarity against the indifference of politics and society because humane solutions can only be found if we have the courage to face reality.
1. The "Nomade House project" is an international cultural project initiated and supported by the Company Nouveaux Disparus. It is a project carried out under the Europe Creative program in partnership with organizations from six other countries (Belgium, France, Tunisia, Greece, Italy and Germany). The "Nomade House project" is a process of creation and artistic dissemination as well as scientific research on the topic of migration. The project consists of multidisciplinary creative workshops, a theatre performance, and various cultural activities such as a traveling exhibition and conference debates. The aim of the project is to give space and attention to people from both shores of the Mediterranean on the run and activist groups and their demands by disseminating these life stories through this traveling cultural center and enabling a change in consciousness. 2. Criminalization of migration and solidarity, We work transnationally with those affected (e.g. #Paros3 , #Samos2 , Iuventa Crew ) and support them or their family members in networking with relevant actors such as finding lawyers, litigation, fundraising for legal aid costs and through public relations work. Our work focuses on supporting people from third countries, often refugees, who usually have no or very limited financial resources and support structures in Europe and receive little public attention. This is done in close cooperation with local NGOs such as Porco Rosso in Sicily, the Human Rights Legal Project (Samos), Legal Center Lesvos, and Aegean Migrant Solidarity (formerly CPT - Lesvos) in Greece. 3. Central Mediterranean info 2.0: Since January 2021, we have been sharing parts of our collected data from the Central Mediterranean (Central Med) with the public at the end of the month. These contain all the information we have access to on arrivals, rescues and push- and pullbacks in Central Med. In this way, we contrast the figures from the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the UN with a civilian observation. We collect and process all the information that is available to us via various channels and networks in multiple statistics and tables. In addition to arrival and departure locations, nationalities, ages, and gender, we record any characteristics that may enable individual people or groups to be traced. 4. Externalisation of the borders Within the framework of our research and our work on the outside borders of the EU we are focussing since around 5 years on the externalisation of the borders towards North African countries. Since than we have hosted interns from countries like Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Palestine, Sudan and Tunisia in cooperation with the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (IFA). We are interested to get into contact with Human Rights Organisations from these countries to create networks and also to get to know their perspective and view on Europe and it´s migration policy. As one of the results of this networking activities we are running a project in cooperation with the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) from Sudan to create a database against enforced disappearances. This is a practical result for our intercultural interaction throughout the Mediterranean to confront the eurocentric perspective with the view from the south and to foster greater inclusivity and diversity within the borderline-europe team.
Borderline-Europe can make a valuable contribution to the Anna Lindh Foundation Network in Germany as we have strong roots and connections to the nonprofit sector here, in particular human rights defenders and experts. By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment to promote freedom of movement and human rights in Germany, we ensure active participation in shaping positive change and decision-making processes. We do this by creating a safe space for intercultural dialogue and sharing perspectives and by aligning our missions and activities with the foundation's goals. Furthermore, we intend to invest in joint activities and campaigns to show how powerful unity is through our presence in the Network and of course set an example for the rest of the German civil society. ALF Network, along with borderline-europe can leverage our resources and expertise to have an insightful exchange as we have experience with EU migration policies, legal defense for people on the move, artistic expression, and culture. Together, this unifying mechanism will allow the network to synchronize, and achieve goals while amplifying the positive impact in our country and have a fruitful outcome, both internally and externally, in terms of learning, skill-sharing, advocacy, etc.
Networks often provide access to resources, including funding opportunities, research, and expertise. As borderline-europe, we always seek to establish new partnerships and work collaboratively with different organizations. We believe that joining the ALF Network will allow us to network with a broader range of stakeholders, including cultural, social, and political entities, to advocate for and promote human rights issues. These networks provide a platform to collectively push for policy changes and address systemic challenges. Being part of a larger network will also increase the visibility and reach of human rights initiatives, it allows organizations to amplify their messages and influences, raising awareness about human rights violations and mobilizing more support. Cultural dialogue networks foster understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and backgrounds. By joining the ALF network we believe we can promote intercultural dialogue and bridge gaps between different communities, contributing to a more inclusive and tolerant society. Mutual learning is also a very important layer as inclusive networks encourage the exchange of knowledge and experiences among members. Mutual learning between organizations can increase and enhance the effectiveness and impact of each.
