The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on World Refugee Day, released the following statement:
«The plight of refugees and displaced persons resulting from the increasing number of armed conflicts, regional tensions and severe humanitarian crises – triggered among other things, by the mounting impact of extreme weather events – is growing ever more serious.
It is a sobering reality, which urges us to do more for the vulnerable and the needy, to uphold the inviolability of every person’s dignity.
This is not merely a humanitarian issue: it’s a legal, and moral obligation we all share.
On this World Refugee Day, we must once again point out that safeguarding the individual person, under all circumstances, is the founding principle of the Italian Republic. It lies at the heart of the European legal system and stands as a cornerstone of international law.
Italy, given its geographical location, is tackling this global challenge first-hand while addressing the profound reasons underlying these phenomena.
This is where the international legal system reveals its shortcomings—unable to fully accomplish the task of protecting these fragile situations, especially at a time when relations between States are weakening and tearing apart.
The vision of the Italian Republic, based on multilateral cooperation and dialogue, appears to be even more valuable, as it involves civil society, for a shared approach capable of offering swift, concrete and effective responses».
