18/06/2010 - World Refugee Day Ecumenical Prayer Service in pictures
View photos from the Ecumenical Prayer Service held in Sliema, Malta, in memory of the dead at the outer borders of the EU.

17/06/2010 - World Refugee Day, 20 June 2010
In a statement released by the International Office, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) urges governments and civil society groups worldwide to tap into the resources of refugees and other forced displaced persons in urban areas. This not only promotes the self-sufficiency of the refugees but also contributes to the well-being of their host communities. Read statement...

16/06/2010 - World Refugee Day - Activities in Malta
Jesuit Refugee Service Malta is taking an active part in events jointly organised by UNHCR, various NGOs and the Office of the Refugee Commissioner to mark World Refugee Day 2010 in Malta. Download poster...

12/06/2010 - Film Screening: Like a Man on Earth
JRS Malta will once again screen the award-winning documentary film "Come un uomo sulla terra" (Like a man on earth) – Italian with English subtitles, on Tuesday, 15 June 2010, in St James Cavalier, Valletta, at 7.30pm. Entrance free. In view of recent developments related to asylum seekers seeking to reach Europe from Libya at the beginning of this week, and the closure of the UNHCR office in that country, the personal testimonies of refugees who passed through Libya are a powerful message to anyone concerned about human rights. View poster. More information on http://comeunuomosullaterra.blogspot.com/

11/06/2010 - Pilot Study on Migrant Destitution
Jesuit Refugee Service Malta has published a report on a pilot study amongst the migrant community in Malta. Download...

10/06/2010 - Ecumenical Prayer Service
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Dominican Community and Jesuit Refugee Service Malta announce an Ecumenical Prayer Service to pray for those who are in need of protection in Europe and to pray for those who have died trying to reach the EU. Details...

08/06/2010 - JRS Europe presents new study on Migrant Detention
After 18 months of research in 23 European countries including Malta, the evidence is clear. Migrant detention causes harm to physical and mental health, even among those considered as the least vulnerable. The findings of this extensive study, Becoming Vulnerable in Detention, coordinated by JRS Europe and presented in Brussels today, coincide with the conclusions of research studies undertaken in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Read the executive summary or download the full report...

18/04/2010 - Pope acknowledges Refugees
Pope Benedict XVI, visiting Malta on 17-18 April, acknowledged "the waves of refugees" who "arrive from Africa and knock at Europe’s door." JRS Malta warmly welcomes the Pope's various references to asylum seekers and migrants. Read more...

06/01/2010 - Archbishop receives JRS Malta
Archbishop Paul Cremona received the team of Jesuit Refugee Service Malta at his residence in Attard. Read more...

18/12/2009 - Do They Know? Testimonies by Asylum Seekers
Do They Know? is a collection of testimonies from asylum seekers who were granted protection in Malta, highlighting their experiences of life there. Published by JRS Malta to coincide with International Migrants' Day, which is marked today, the testimonies reveal unthinkable hardship many migrants face in Libya, which is almost an obligatory transit country for sub-Saharan Africans fleeing widespread violence and human rights violations in their countries. Read the statement or go directly to Do They Know?

16/10/2009 - Forced Migrants Living in Destitution
On the occasion of the World Food Day (16 Oct) and the International Day for theEradication of Poverty (17 Oct), the Jesuit Refugee Service Europe (JRS) draws attention to the desperate situation of destitute forced migrants in Europe. Read more...

02/10/2009 - Vatican Stresses "Tragic Plight" of Refugees
JRS Europe welcomes Vatican's Call for Collaboration and Co-Responsibility amongst Global Community. Read more...

17/09/2009 - Statement to the Human Rights Council 12th Session, Geneva.
JRS Malta was among 141 organisations who signed the statement regarding migrants in Detention Centres. Full statement.

25/07/2009 - Recommendations for the Migration and Asylum Policies in the EU "Stockholm Programme" (2010-2015)
A network of Christian agencies in Brussels, that includes JRS Europe, has released a list of eighteen recommendations for the 'Stockholm Programme', an initiative that shall determine the direction of EU policies in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice for the next five years (2010-2015). Read more...

19/06/09 - World Refugee Day - Press release
JRS Malta has issued a press statement to mark World Refugee Day entitled "People still need protection". Download [PDF]

The press releases of JRS Europe and JRS International are also available for download here.

JRS Europe WRD press release
JRS International WRD press release

17/06/09 - Come un Uomo sulla Terra
"Come un Uomo sulla Terra" (Like a Man on Earth), currently being screened in major Italian cities, forms part of the events marking World Refugee Day in Malta. Download the poster.

05/06/09 - Maltese Students win Pedro Arrupe Award 2009
A group of students from St. Benedict's College won the first prize of the under-16 category of the Pedro Arrupe Award. Read more...

08/05/09 - Forced Return of Migrants to Libya
Ten Maltese and international NGOs and Church oganisations as well as concerned individuals working with refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, have called the forced return of migrants to Libya by Italy on 7 May a serious violation of international law. In a joint press statement... Read more...

Forced Return to Libya no 'victory': a loss for Humanity.
Coalition calls upon EU governments to uphold the right to seek asylum. Read more...

07/05/09 - JRS Europe, JRS Italy, JRS Malta statement says removal of migrants to Libya directly contravenes international laws. Read more...

01/05/09 – JRS Malta calls for clear rules on rescue at sea and admission
Following the rescue by Maltese authorities of 66 irregular migrants whose dinghy ad run out of fuel close to the Italian island of Lampedusa, JRS called for clear rules on rescue at sea and admission of survivors. Read more...

23/01/09 - The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded a five-day mission to Malta at the invitation of the Maltese Government. The group visited several detention facilities, where it conducted interviews with detainees, and met government authorities, members of NGOs as well as representatives of UN agencies and international organisations.
UN Working Group Report

26/06/2008 - JRS Comments on 2008 Amendments to Refugee Law [PDF]

23/04/2008 - Council of Europe Report links racism in Malta to detention policy
The 3rd Malta report  European Committee on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), issued today states that policy of systematic detention of all arriving migrants is having 'negative consequences on...the perception of these people as criminals and the levels of racism and xenophobia among the general population'. In a strongly worded reply, the Government accuses the report of showing 'disregard of Malta's vital national interests', and of falling short of 'accepted standards of impartiality'.  It is said that the ECRI mission did not take up the offer to visit the detention centres but relied on 'second hand information given by a few militant NGOs'.
Read more: ECRI Malta report [PDF]
Malta Government response [PDF]

08/03/08 - International Woman of Achievement award presented to Dr.Katrine Camilleri
The US Embassy presented Dr. Katrine Camilleri, who leads the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) legal team, with its annual International Woman of Achievement award. US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro presented the award to Dr Camilleri at a reception on Tuesday held to mark Women's Day. Dr.Camilleri was recognised for her exceptional and courageous work as an advocate for human rights and for her commitment to ensuring that irregular migrants in Malta receive adequate social and legal services.

01/03/08 - JRS Europe Common Position on Administrative Detention
JRS Europe has just released its position on the detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants.
Read more...[PDF]

21/02/08 - Pope Benedict XVI commends JRS for their continued support of refugees
In an address delivered to the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus,  Pope Benedict brought special attention to those who continue to suffer from poverty and exclusion. He made reference to a society that pursues its own selfish endeavours as opposed to global solidarity.Pope Benedict stated, "The situations of injustice and poverty in the world of today are countless and dramatic and it is necessary to try to understand and combat in the heart of man the deeper causes of the evil that separates him from God, without forgetting to meet the more urgent needs in the spirit of the charity of Christ".
His Holiness mentioned the late Fr Pedro Arrupe and his 'far sighted intuition' in committing the Jesuits to work with refugees.  He went on to commend the Society of Jesus for continuing "to engage in a meritorious way in the service of the refugees, who are often the poorest among the poor and need not only material help but also the deeper spiritual, human and psychological proximity especially proper to your service".

14/02/08 - Dr. Camilleri participates in seminar about gender based violence
Between the 14th and 15th February 2008, the International Centre for Reproductive Health and the University of Ghent held a seminar in Belgium entitled "Hidden violence is a silent rape: Prevention of gender-based violence against refugees and asylum seekers in Europe." Dr. Katrine Camilleri of JRS Malta spoke at the opening of the seminar, giving a contextual introduction to the state of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe with regards to immigration control, detention, and destitution. The seminar presented the results of community-based research on the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence against refugees, revealed a new prevention tool, and established policy recommendations for enhancing prevention efforts in the EU member states. 
Read the speech... [PDF]

01/10/2007 - JRS (Malta) lawyer wins 2007 Nansen Award
Dr Katrine Camilleri, the JRS(Malta) lawyer, has been awarded the 2007 Nansen Award by UNHCR for her stand on refugee rights and tolerance.  At a short but very meaningful ceremony at the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, JRS(Malta) lawyer Katrine Camilleri was presented with the 2007 Nansen Award by High Commissioner for  Refugees Antonio Guterres. "We are all privileged to be able to give the Nansen Refugee Award to an angel," António Guterres said before handing over the award in front of scores of guests.
Read UNHCR Report...
Read acceptance speech...

16/08/07 - CPT 2005 Report on Malta
Today the Maltese government published the report of European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on its visit to Malta in June 2005, together with the government response. The CPT delegation visited the Maltese detention centres, and raised concerns on ill treatment, conditions of detention, removal of foreign nationals and medical services. 
Read more... CPT 2005 Report [PDF]
Read more... Government Response [PDF]

6/7/2007 - Government appreciation of JRS work with asylum seekers
In a letter to Fr Paul Pace, JRS Director, Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi expressed the 'Government's appreciation for the good work being done by JRS with, and in defence of, asylum seekers arriving in Malta'
Read more...

11/06/2007 - Message by Maltese Bishops
The Maltese Bishops have today issued a strong message entitiled 'Human Life First and Foremost' in which, while acknowledging the complexity of the migration issue and the disproprortionate burden that Malta has to bear, say that 'that even in cases where responsibility for rescue lies with other States, our country should do all that is possible to ensure that there is no loss of human life'.
Read more..

JRS Europe launches report on destitute forced migrants
JRS Europe has recently completed research on the situation of destitute forced migrants. There has been research at a national level in Europe but this is the first study at European Union-wide level. JRS has identified it as an EU-wide problem which is connected to EU returns policy.

This project was made possible by a grant from EPIM - NEF. The results of this study will be made public during a press event in the Residence Palace in Brussels, on 15th May.