The influence of International Law on the protection of the rights of forced migrants in Italy

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5902/2357797596184

Keywords:

Italy, Mediterranean, Forced migration, International Law, Refugees

Abstract

This article examines the measures adopted by international institutions to safeguard the security and integrity of forced migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Italy, from the Hirsi Jamaa v. Italy judgment (2012) to the present. The research is situated within the field of International Relations, with an emphasis on International Law, and draws on the theoretical contributions of Vincent Chetail-who discusses the international legal framework governing migration and its relationship with global institutions-alongside other scholars addressing the limits of humanitarian protection and state accountability. The central research question guiding this study is: to what extent does Italy’s approach to forced migration in the Mediterranean expose the limitations of International Law’s effectiveness? Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative, descriptive, and deductive approach, grounded in bibliographic and documentary research. It analyzes international treaties and conventions, European Union legislation, reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and related documents. The study is justified by the need to critically assess Italy’s controversial role in migration management, which, despite the existence of European and international legal frameworks, continues to perpetuate practices that violate human rights.

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Author Biographies

Maria Rita Gonçalves Amaral, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

Undergraduate student in International Relations, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.

Nicolas Pereira Campos, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

Undergraduate student in International Relations, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.

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Published

2026-06-01

How to Cite

Amaral, M. R. G., & Campos, N. P. (2026). The influence of International Law on the protection of the rights of forced migrants in Italy. InterAção, 17(2), e96184. https://doi.org/10.5902/2357797596184