Sea rescue operations are primarily regulated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the SAR Convention (Search and Rescue), which establish the obligation for states to coordinate and carry out rescue operations at sea. States have the responsibility to ensure maritime safety and, in case of emergency, to provide timely assistance to anyone in danger, regardless of their nationality or legal status. Sea rescue operations are crucial for saving migrant lives fleeing from conflict, persecution, or poverty. However, the policies of some European states and the lack of effective coordination between countries often hinder these rescues. NGOs operating in the Mediterranean have been crucial in complementing rescue operations, often intervening in areas where states lack the capacity or willingness to ensure safety. Unfortunately, these operations have often been subject to restrictive policies and criminalization, despite their fundamental value in saving human lives.
Project funded by the European Union's Citizens,