Italy criminalising migrant NGOs - UNHCR

(ANSA) - Rome, November 22 - 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".