Ending the criminalisation of humanitarian work

Governments across Europe have fallen seriously short in their efforts to provide aid and dignified reception to some of the world’s most vulnerable people arriving to Europe’s shores. So Europeans across the continent have stepped in to offer vital humanitarian assistance to those who desperately need it.

Manuel, Enrique and Julio are three Spanish firemen who did just that, and were arrested for human smuggling - click here to watch the video where the firemen explain the situation. The legislation which allowed for their arrested for human smuggling is being revised by the European Commission right now. Over 4000 people took part to the Commission’s public consultation on the topic which ended in April 2016, and over 133,000 have signed demanding the Commission push for a serious change in this legislation, ensuring no humanitarian worker can be charged for acts of humanity.

Now we are foucusing our efforts in a particular demand addressed to the EU Commissioner for Migration: a change in the Facilitation Directive to ensure Europe’s unsung heros are treated with the dignity they deserve and not criminalised for offering humanitarian assistance. Your signature will help increase the pressure!