安理會授權歐盟等軍隊，得在公海檢查人口走私船

【Comment】

這是聯合國安理會為期一年的限期授權，授權給EU與其他個別國家，得以對有人口走私嫌疑船隻登船檢查(board ships for inspection)、拿捕船隻(seize vessels)，以及處置船隻(dispose vessels)。授權地區為利比亞外的公海。

此授權不得適用至依據國際法有主權豁免之船隻。

由於走私來自利比亞與其領海，所以要求各國與利比亞分享資訊。其目的在終止人口走私與死亡，而不是損害個人的人權，或阻止其尋求國際人權法、國際難民法的救濟保護。

歐盟出動軍艦抓偷渡 聯合國准了○聯合(2015.10.11)

聯合國安全理事會9日批准歐洲聯盟採取軍事行動對付偷渡集團，得以查扣和處理在利比亞沿岸地中海運作的偷渡集團船隻。

當歐洲面臨二次世界大戰結束以來最嚴重難民危機，且竭力展開因應行動時，英國起草的這項決議案獲得聯合國支持。共15個成員的安理會，以14票贊成通過這項決議案，委內瑞拉於表決時棄權。

這項聯合國對歐盟海軍特遣艦隊的授權，並非強制歐盟必須採取行動，但的確賦予歐盟在公海展開查扣偷渡船隻的索非亞行動（Operation Sophia）更大正當性。

由包括一艘義大利航空母艦、兩艘法國和英國巡防艦以及兩艘德國船艦等組成的五國海軍遣艦隊，於7日展開歐洲因應地中海難民危機的第二階段行動。

UN Security Council authorizes operations to disrupt migrant smuggling of coast of Libya○UN(2015.10.09)

9 October 2015 – Acting to help “save the threatened lives of migrants or of victims of human trafficking” and to disrupt criminal enterprises operating on the high-seas off the coast of Libya, the United Nations Security Council today authorized for one year operations by the European Union (EU) and individual countries to inspect and or seize vessels of suspected of people smuggling in the Mediterranean.

By a vote of 14 in favour, with Venezuela abstaining, the Council adopted a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which authorizes the use of force, through with countries and regional organizations could board ships for inspection, seize and even dispose of vessels suspected of being used by migrant smugglers.

The Council deplored the continuing maritime tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea that have resulted in hundreds of casualties, and noted with concern that such casualties were, “in some cases, the result of exploitation and misinformation by transnational criminal organizations which facilitated the illegal smuggling of migrants via dangerous methods for personal gain and with callous disregard for human life.”

As such, countries, through the new resolution, are authorized to inspect vessels on the high-seas off Libya which they “have reasonable grounds to suspect are being used for migrant smuggling or human trafficking from Libya,” provided “good faith efforts” are made to obtain the consent of the vessel’s flag State.

The resolution however states that such authorization does “not apply to vessels entitled to sovereign immunity under international law” and applies “only in the situation of migrant smuggling and trafficking of human beings high seas off the coast of Libya.”

Calling on Member States to help Libya, when requested, to strengthen the means available to it to secure its borders and prevent migrant smuggling and human trafficking, the Council also urged States, “in the spirit of international solidarity and shared responsibility,” to cooperate with the Libyan Government, and each other, including by sharing information about acts of smuggling and human trafficking in Libya’s territorial sea and on the high seas off the country’s coast.

Council members also underscored that the aim of the resolution is intended to disrupt the organized criminal enterprises engaged in migrant smuggling and human trafficking and prevent loss of life, “and is not intended to undermine the human rights of individuals or prevent them from seeking protection under international human rights law and international refugee law.”