The Farnesina responds to the statements issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which in a note considers Michelle Bachelet's accusations inappropriate and unfounded, which denounced alleged defaults in Italy regarding respect for the human rights of migrants.
“For years, Italy has been engaged in rescue and rescue operations for people in the Mediterranean Sea, which have been followed up by onerous and complex policies of first reception in the national territory. Of these operations, Italy has assumed the prevailing cost, in terms of use of human resources, means, finances and above all, social impact and perception of the same. In addition, Italy has ensured concrete actions in support of the countries of origin and transit of migrants, with cooperation and assistance projects in various sectors: from border control to training, education, security, health emergencies. and food, to the improvement of living conditions in the reception camps. Vast layers of Italian civil society have been and are engaged in various initiatives, characterized by an approach of help to migrants and aimed at protecting the rights and interests of those who undertake terrible journeys and become victims of exploiters and traffickers of human beings with the hope for a better life, far from wars, destruction, poverty and famine ”.
“Italy - underlines the Farnesina - has urged the international organizations to which it belongs to share the effort in a spirit of fair and concrete solidarity. Several times, the tragedy of migration and its impact in Europe has been brought to the attention of the European Union, since we think it should take action with much more effectiveness and real sharing than it has done so far. The United Nations has also been sensitized: in particular, we have contributed to bringing the priority issue of migration into the debate of the UN General Assembly. We have tried to push the specialized agencies of the United Nations - UNHCR, IOM above all - to intensify their mobilization and to make their necessary presence and work in the countries of origin of migrants, in neighboring Libya, more efficient, systematic and widespread. those of transit and finally, those from which migrants arrive in Europe ".
“Italy is ready to discuss the real results of the UN action and its effective impact in proportion to the magnitude of the epochal migratory flows. Some data can - perhaps - help the newly elected High Commissioner to understand better. Italy has saved tens of thousands of people in the Mediterranean, often alone, as has been repeatedly recognized, among other things at the highest levels of the European Union. Thanks to our decisive contribution, there has been a 52% reduction in shipwreck victims in the Mediterranean, since the beginning of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. We are proud of this. And we are proud that our efforts - humanitarian, political, diplomatic, financial, material - have led to the 80% decrease in the landings of migrants on Italian and therefore European coasts in the last 12 months ”.