An investigation was launched in Sicily last May into 21 people accused of aiding and abetting illegal immigration in connection with several search and rescue missions carried out between 2016 and 2017.
Among the accused are four crew members of the juventaa former fishing trawler that saved around 14,000 migrant lives in the Mediterranean, and human rights activists from other civilian vessels.
“Solidarity is not smuggling”
The ongoing proceedings are “a dark spot on Italy and the EU’s commitment to human rights”, called Maria Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
“They are criminalized because of their human rights work. Saving lives is not a crime and solidarity is not smuggling.”
Ms Lawlor has engaged with the authorities on the matter.
“A very disturbing sign”
She pointed out that the trial was plagued by procedural violations, including a failure to provide adequate interpreters for non-Italian defendants and translations of key documents.
Last month, Italy’s prime minister’s office and interior ministry applied to join the case as plaintiffs, seeking damages for damages allegedly caused by the alleged crimes.
“States that respect human rights encourage the work of human rights defenders,” Ms Lawlor said. “The government’s decision to join the case directly contradicts this principle – it is a very worrying sign.”
life in further danger
The case is unfolding against the backdrop of new restrictions imposed by Italian authorities on civilian search and rescue operations.
Since December, NGO ships have been constantly ordered to bring rescued people ashore in ports in northern and central Italy or from rescue centers in the central Mediterranean for several days.
In addition, new civil search and rescue regulations introduced in January prevent NGO captains from conducting multiple rescue operations during a mission.
They must now apply for a port of disembarkation and go there immediately, otherwise they risk heavy fines and the confiscation of their ships.
Ms Lawlor urged the Italian government to do so to abolish a lawwhich is incompatible with its obligations under international law.
“The new laws and instructions on disembarkation ports hamper essential activities of civilian rescue ships,” she said. “They are widening the search and rescue gap in the central Mediterranean, further putting lives and rights at risk.”
About UN rapporteurs
Special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UNHuman Rights Council Monitoring and reporting on a specific human rights issue or the situation in a country.
They are not UN employees and are not paid for their work.
