“Life is stronger”. These were the words Ms Ingal Dul, JRS Ukraine Director, used in a recent meeting of JRS directors, to describe her reaction when she saw children playing in Bucha, Ukraine. In 2021, hundreds of people in Bucha were massacred, tortured and raped by...
JRS Europe has published a joint statement in reaction to the European Commission's proposed regulation on the return of Third Country Nationals. The statement is signed by the JRS Europe network, consisting of JRS Austria, JRS Belgium, JRS France, JRS Germany, JRS...
JRS Malta is committed to providing vital assistance to refugees who have fled their homes in search of safety. We believe that every act of kindness has the power to make a lasting impact. And your wedding can make a difference. Our new fundraising initiative invites...
This is a Civil Society statement on the Ombudsperson’s report on Corradino prison: The Ombudsman’s prison report reveals the appalling situation in prison prevailing under Alexander Dalli’s Directorship. Dalli stripped inmates of their human dignity and actively...
In recent years, JRS Malta has been working on expanding and enhancing our services for refugee youth. Building on what we’ve learned, we are now launching a four-year project (2024-2028), “Pathway Towards a Hope-Filled Future: The Implementation of an Integration...
JRS Malta is seeking to recruit CULTURAL MEDIATORS who are fluent in the following languages: Amharic Bangla French Somali Spanish Tigrinya Ukrainian Urdu The selected candidate will be offered a six-month contract of service - renewable upon review - to support...
JRS Malta is seeking to recruit a full-time or part-time SOCIAL WORKER to work with forced migrants and asylum seekers. The selected candidate will be offered a one-year definite contract, with the possibility of being offered an indefinite contract upon successful...
The 2022 X factor winner Ryan Hili, and finalist duo Ceci & Kriss have come together to perform live on one special evening dedicated to raising funds for JRS Malta. The Live Music Event will happen on Friday 29 November, at the Catholic Institute in Floriana. The...
Beginning of October is back-to-school season and JRS Malta is launching an appeal for the public to assist us with funds for our Educational and Youth Programme. Since 2023, JRS Malta has been running this programme that aims to provide specialized services and...
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated on September 29 of each year. This is the 110th anniversary since the Christian Church started to celebrate this important day in its calendar. The theme chosen by Pope Francis this year is “God Walks with His...
This is the Press Statement as issued by the 47 entities that endorsed the CommemorAction held on Sunday 5 February:
More than 1,300 people died or disappeared in the Central Mediterranean in 2022. These people – men, women, children, sons, and daughters – can be added to the deplorable death toll of more than 25,000 people who have died while crossing the Mediterranean since 2014.1
The Maltese government’s continued failure to uphold its search and rescue (SAR) responsibilities contributes to this death toll by putting lives at risk. In 2022, Maltese authorities ignored more than 20,000 people in distress; 413 boats in distress in Malta’s SAR zone were not assisted, and only three boats were rescued by the Maltese Armed Forces.2
People in distress in our SAR zone must be rescued without delay. Despite Minister Camilleri’s claim of “defending our realm”, government decisions to delay and avoid rescue lead directly to the loss of life at sea. Four-year-old Loujin died of thirst in September 2022 after days of being in distress in Malta’s SAR zone. Her death makes clear the consequences of our government’s actions. The murderous policy adopted by the Maltese authorities must be reversed.
In 2022, a further 24,600 people were pushed back to Libya after being intercepted at sea. Returning people to Libya has been widely condemned for violating international law and the principle of non-refoulement: Libya is not a safe place. Migrants regularly face torture, rape, and death in the country. Yet, on multiple occasions, Maltese authorities have allowed the Libyan coast guard or instructed private vessels to return people to Libya from Malta’s search and rescue zone. Malta’s actions result in the abuse, exploitation, and death of thousands of people, including children.
In Malta, the government’s divisive rhetoric and practices reinforce the violence seen at sea: raids on asylum seekers’ homes, alongside statements made by politicians, encourage racism and further violence.
Malta and the Mediterranean should not be a place of death but rather a place of refuge and safety. The government must reassess its approach towards migration and engage with those who are dedicated to supporting migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Until then, Malta will continue to be responsible for causing harm to those seeking a better life.
Saving migrant lives at sea is both a legal and moral obligation. By failing to fulfil these obligations, the government puts lives at risk and compromises the value of compassion that we hold dear. At this year’s Global Day of CommemorAction, we lay out shoes symbolically to help us confront the question: Who were the people whose lives were lost at sea because of our government’s actions?
“Life is stronger”. These were the words Ms Ingal Dul, JRS Ukraine Director, used in a recent meeting of JRS directors, to describe her reaction when she saw children playing in Bucha, Ukraine. In 2021, hundreds of people in Bucha were massacred, tortured and raped by...
JRS Europe has published a joint statement in reaction to the European Commission's proposed regulation on the return of Third Country Nationals. The statement is signed by the JRS Europe network, consisting of JRS Austria, JRS Belgium, JRS France, JRS Germany, JRS...
JRS Malta is committed to providing vital assistance to refugees who have fled their homes in search of safety. We believe that every act of kindness has the power to make a lasting impact. And your wedding can make a difference. Our new fundraising initiative invites...
This is a Civil Society statement on the Ombudsperson’s report on Corradino prison: The Ombudsman’s prison report reveals the appalling situation in prison prevailing under Alexander Dalli’s Directorship. Dalli stripped inmates of their human dignity and actively...
In recent years, JRS Malta has been working on expanding and enhancing our services for refugee youth. Building on what we’ve learned, we are now launching a four-year project (2024-2028), “Pathway Towards a Hope-Filled Future: The Implementation of an Integration...
JRS Malta is seeking to recruit CULTURAL MEDIATORS who are fluent in the following languages: Amharic Bangla French Somali Spanish Tigrinya Ukrainian Urdu The selected candidate will be offered a six-month contract of service - renewable upon review - to support...
JRS Malta is seeking to recruit a full-time or part-time SOCIAL WORKER to work with forced migrants and asylum seekers. The selected candidate will be offered a one-year definite contract, with the possibility of being offered an indefinite contract upon successful...
The 2022 X factor winner Ryan Hili, and finalist duo Ceci & Kriss have come together to perform live on one special evening dedicated to raising funds for JRS Malta. The Live Music Event will happen on Friday 29 November, at the Catholic Institute in Floriana. The...
Beginning of October is back-to-school season and JRS Malta is launching an appeal for the public to assist us with funds for our Educational and Youth Programme. Since 2023, JRS Malta has been running this programme that aims to provide specialized services and...
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated on September 29 of each year. This is the 110th anniversary since the Christian Church started to celebrate this important day in its calendar. The theme chosen by Pope Francis this year is “God Walks with His...
“Life is stronger”. These were the words Ms Ingal Dul, JRS Ukraine Director, used in a recent meeting of JRS directors, to describe her reaction when she saw children playing in Bucha, Ukraine. In...
JRS Europe has published a joint statement in reaction to the European Commission's proposed regulation on the return of Third Country Nationals. The statement is signed by the JRS Europe network,...
