The right to solidarity; the duty to rescue migrants

ITALIAN VERSION

NEV Agency

Thursday 24th May at 1.00pm in the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies: press
conference to present the new collaboration between the Federation of Protestant
Churches in Italy (FCEI) and the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in Mediterranean
search and rescue (SAR) missions.
Rome (NEV), 11th May 2018 – A press conference will take place in Rome on
Thursday 24th May, at 1.00pm in the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies in via
della Missione, 4. Entitled “The right to solidarity, the duty to carry out migrant sea
rescue”, the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI) and Spanish NGO
Proactiva Open Arms will be presenting their collaborative project for Mediterranean
SAR missions.

“Welcoming and rescuing those who risk their lives is a commitment which is
fundamental to our Christian vocation and our witness as churches,” affirms FCEI
president Luca Maria Negro. As a Federation of Protestant churches we feel duty-
bound to commit ourselves to direct involvement in sea rescue and have therefore
decided to instigate a partnership with the NGO Proactiva Open Arms which has for
years worked to good effect to save the lives of those who, fleeing persecution and
poverty, cross the Mediterranean Sea”.

After introductory remarks from Riccardo Magi, MP for the +Europa party, speakers will include: Luigi Manconi, director of the National Anti-Racial Discrimination Office (UNAR); Luca Maria Negro, FCEI president; Maria Bonafede, FCEI board member; Riccardo Gatti,head of operations and captain of Proactiva Open Arms; Paolo Naso, co-ordinator of the    FCEI’s Mediterranean Hope refugee and migrant programm. Chairing proceedings will be Gian Mario Gillio, managing director of the FCEI’s news agency, NEV.

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“On the Barbed Sea”, a book of drawings by Francesco Piobbichi, edited by Com Nuovi
Tempi and produced within the ambit of the FCEI’s Mediterranean Hope programme,
will be launched at the press conference.

A public event will take place at 7.00pm in the Methodist hall in via Firenze 38, Rome.
Speakers will include Luigi Manconi, Maria Bonafede, Riccardo Gatti e Francesco
Piobbichi.

For accreditations and bookings, please contact accrediti@confronti.net