Italy is "criminalising" NGOs
that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean, the office of the
United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) said
Thursday.
The UNHCR voiced "concern" at the "continual defamatory
campaign in Italy against NGOs working in rescue operations in
the Mediterranean".
It also voiced concern at the "criminalisation of work done
by those who defend migrants' rights.
"The Italian government," a group of UN experts write, "has
made it practically impossible for NGO ships to continue to
rescue migrants: this has led to more drownings and
disappearances.
"Saving lives is not a crime, protecting human dignity is not
a crime".
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