Amnesty International Hails Dismissal of Charges Against Iuventa Crew and Human Rights Defenders

Amnesty International has welcomed the decision by the Trapani court Prosecutor to request the dismissal of charges against the crew members of the Iuventa ship, as well as other human rights defenders who served on rescue ships operated by Médicins Sans Frontières and Save the Children. The Iuventa crew, who have endured six and a half years of court proceedings, are praised for their grace and resilience. The crew has saved over 14,000 lives, including children, while upholding the law of the sea. Amnesty International urges authorities to stop misusing criminal proceedings and charges of facilitating irregular migration to obstruct life-saving activities.

The Italian authorities had opened investigations in 2017 into the crew members of the Iuventa, an NGO ship involved in search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean. They were charged with facilitating irregular immigration to Italy from Libya, facing up to 20 years in prison. The court in Trapani is expected to reach a decision on March 2 on whether the Iuventa crew and others from Médecins Sans Frontières and Save the Children will be indicted. Amnesty International launched a solidarity campaign in 2020 calling for the investigation against the Iuventa crew members to be dropped.

Amnesty International emphasizes the fearlessness of the Iuventa crew and others who work to save lives in the treacherous waters of the Mediterranean. Their acts of solidarity with refugees and migrants are praised and should not be punished. The organization highlights the importance of prioritizing humanity and supporting those who are battling the horrors faced by refugees and migrants at sea. Without these dedicated individuals, the already high death toll in the central Mediterranean would only increase.

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