No celebration while watching people drown
12 April 2020
We urgently call on the Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, to ensure that all persons within Malta’s responsibility are rescued and that their safety is guaranteed. The nation cannot quietly celebrate Easter while men, women and children are drowning in front of us.
Saving lives and ensuring their disembarkation at a safe place is a fundamental legal obligation and also a moral imperative that can in no way be negotiated or renounced.
We reiterate our message of two days ago: Malta must revoke its decision to close its ports to persons rescued at sea, whoever they are.
Statement of:
- aditus foundation
- African Media Association Malta
- Association for Justice, Equality and Peace
- Blue Door English
- The Critical Institute
- Cross Culture International Foundation
- The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation
- Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants
- Integra Foundation
- Isles of the Left
- Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta)
- KOPIN
- Malta Emigrants’ Commission
- Migrant Women Association Malta
- Moviment Graffitti
- Office of the Dean – Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta
- People for Change Foundation
- SOS Malta
- Spark15
- Sudanese Migrants Association
- Syrian Solidarity in Malta
- Secretariat Assistenza Soċjali
- Paolo Freire institute
- St. Jeanne Antide foundation
- Fondazjoni Sebħ
- Church homes for the elderly
Articles related to this statement
- ‘Easter can’t be celebrated while people drown on our doorstep’ – NGOs - Newsbook, 12 April 2020
- ‘Unlawful and despicable’ – NGOs call for migrants in distress to be saved - The Shift, 12 April 2020
- Migrant boat capsizes, many feared dead, NGO says - Malta Independent, 12 April 2020
- ‘We are dying’ migrants adrift in Maltese waters - Archbishop calls for rescue