Considered an important region of emigration, today Morocco is not just a sending country, but also a transit hub for many young migrants coming from sub-Saharan Africa, and a host country as well, leading an ambitious migration policy towards the migrants willing to settle down in the country. Nonetheless, the complexity and dangerousness of migratory roads crossed by the migrants willing to get to Europe are unacceptable. Every year, thousands of young sub-Saharan Africans risk their lives in the desert and crossing the Mediterranean.
In this perspective, the project “Safe Journey” started, in response to the needs identified by the European Union within the European Agenda on Migration 2015 for an urgent response to the migration crisis, and by the Declaration of Malta about the implementation of information campaigns on the prevention of irregular migration. In addition, the internal social needs of Morocco were also taken into consideration, in order to respond to the sustainable development goals 5, 8, and 10 (respectively on gender equality, decent work, economic growth, and reduction of inequalities). Morocco faces a high unemployment rate and a major factor of repulsiveness, mostly in the regions of Beni Mellal-Khénifra, Tangiers-Tetouan, Casablanca-Settat, and Marrakech-Safi, which are the target areas of the campaign. In addition, the current demand for low-skilled labor, especially for agricultural and domestic jobs in Europe, caused an increase in the number of migrant women, and therefore the urgency of a gender-based approach to the question.
The Campaign will perfectly meet both European and Moroccan needs. It will develop differentiated channels to reach specific target groups: people ready to emigrate, teenage students (minors) and their educators, Moroccans and sub-Saharans looking for a job, and socio-economic influencers who can contribute to local economic development. It will work to increase the visibility about the risks of irregularities (such as loss of life and human trafficking) among all these groups. It will focus on presenting concrete and realistic alternatives to migration, always aiming to prevent irregular migration, by promoting local development.