“Disembarkation, finally!” – Joint NGO reaction to the authorisation to disembark 49 rescued migrants

Malta, 9 January 2019 – We welcome Malta’s decision to allow the disembarkation of the 49 migrants rescued by NGO boats, most of whom spent 18 days at sea. Disembarkation will ensure that they are provided with safety, shelter, and care. 

We also appreciate the solidarity expressed by other Member States and institutions of the European Union, in agreeing to share the responsibility of hosting the rescued migrants. 

Such sharing of responsibilities is essential if the EU is to deal effectively with forced migration in a manner that is fair and respectful of fundamental human rights. 

We underline the need to ensure that each and every one of the migrants is granted full access to asylum procedures so they will be able to get the protection that they need. 

We sincerely hope that this will not happen again, and that respect for life and human dignity will remain at the heart of Malta’s approach towards refugees and migrants. 

This statement is issued by the following organisations:

1. aditus foundation

2. African Media Association Malta

3. agara foundation

4. Allejanza kontra il-Faqar

5. Allied Rainbow Communities

6. Art4Life

7. Caritas Malta  

8. Catholic Voices

9. Christian Life Community (CLC) Malta

10. Creative Arts Therapies Society (CATS)

11. Dar Merhba Bik

12. Dar tal-Providenza

13. Department for Inclusion and Access to Learning, University of Malta

14. Department of Gender Studies, University of Malta

15. Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Malta

16. Department of Youth and Community Studies, University of Malta

17. Drachma LGBT

18. Drachma Parents

19. Fondazzjoni Ejjew Ghandi

20. Foundation for Shelter and Support of Migrants (FSM)

21. Integra Foundation

22. International Association for Refugees

23. Isles of the Left

24. Jesuit Refugee Service Malta

26. Kummissjoni Gustizzja u Paci

27. Kunsill Studenti Universitarji

28. LGBTI+ Gozo

29. Malta Association for the Counselling Profession

30. Malta Catholic Youth Network

31. Malta Chamber of Psychologists

32. Malta Emigrants’ Commission

33. Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement 

34. Maltese Association of Psychiatry

35. Maltese Association of Social Workers (MASW)

36. Men Against Violence

37. Migrants Women’s Association Malta (MWAM)

38. Moviment Graffiti

39. National Foster Care Association

40. OASI Foundation

41. Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Social Wellbeing, University of Malta

42. Paulo Freire Institute

43. Peace and Good Foundation

44. People for Change Foundation

45. Platform of Human Rights Organisations in Malta

46. PRISMS

47. Richmond Foundation

48. Salesians of Don Bosco

49. Segretarjat Assistenza Socjali tal-Azzjoni Kattolika Malta

50. Society of Jesus in Malta

51. Solidarity with Migrants Group

52. SOS Malta

53. Spark 15

54. St Jeanne Antide Foundation

55. St Vincent de Paule Society

56. Studenti Harsien Socjali (SHS)

57. The Critical Institute

58. Troupe 18:45

59. University of Malta Chaplaincy

60. Victim Support Malta

61. Women’s Rights Foundation

62. Youth Alive Foundation