Sciabaca and Oruka engage in strategic litigation, through partnerships with African civil society, to counter human rights violations stemming from funding and implementation of border externalization policies.
Brochure
The Sciabaca and Oruka projects aim to challenge the impact of national, European and international policies limiting fundamental rights of non-European citizens, such as freedom of movement and the right to asylum.
The two projects work in synergy: Sciabaca focuses on North African countries (Morocco, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt) while Oruka is focused on five strategic sub-Saharan/East African countries (Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia).
The projects aim at promoting strategic litigation before domestic and international courts. The goal is to expose European and African countries’ responsibility for fundamental rights violations stemming from border and asylum externalization policies. Particular attention is given to the funding of such policies via Italian and EU funding mechanisms, and to underlying agreements with third transit countries.
To achieve these goals, Sciabaca and Oruka create new or strengthen existing international networks with civil society organizations (CSOs) operating outside Europe (Sciabaca means “net” in Arabic), document possible violations, undertake joint litigation actions, and regularly exchange information, experiences and knowledge. ASGI plays a key impulse and coordination role, thanks to its extensive experience in strategic litigation to counter human rights violations in Italy and Europe.
Sciabaca and Oruka revolve around five “rings” (Oruka is the word for “ring” in Yoruba):
FIRST ring – Creating cross-border networks with civil society organizations in non-EU countries for joint monitoring and litigation actions
SECOND ring – Verifying the legality of Italian and EU agreements with third countries
THIRD ring – Documenting Italian and EU funding of externalization policies
FOURTH ring – Promoting strategic litigation before domestic and international courts
FIFTH ring – Disseminating information, spreading good practices, and sharing achievements
