Courtesy translation
«Roughly 100 million men, women, and children from all the continents are obliged to leave their homes to seek refuge against persecution, abuse, and violence. The sense of humanity and respect for the loftiest values enshrined in our Republican Constitution compel us to not ignore their drama.
Today, in celebrating World Refugee Day, it is opportune to reaffirm that the initiatives to provide these people with assistance – especially to the refugees in conditions of particular vulnerability – must go hand in hand with a most urgent pursuit of a long-term structural solution.
In order to definitively overcome the emergency management of these phenomena through a European-wide and international action, we can no longer put off acting on the deepest-set causes that drive such a large number of needy human beings to abandon their Countries. They deserve alternative opportunities to taking risky voyages that, driven by the circumstances, they undertake even under prohibitive conditions.
Italy has always been on the front line in fulfilling its noble duty of solidarity, assistance, and reception, as laid down in the Constitution in respect of those who are disempowered from exercising their rights and democratic liberties in their own Countries.
Being fully aware of the numerous challenges that see us play a major role in defending refugees, I would like to thank the United Nations High Commissioner, to whom Italy is bound by close ties of cooperation.
I would also like to thank the staff of the different State Administrations and all the international protection and reception personnel who, with great professionalism and a deep humanitarian spirit, devote their daily work to alleviating the suffering of refugees and to assuring them access to basic services.»
