The Council of the European Union is planning to criminalise volunteers who pull drowning people from Greek waters or give them dry clothes and food. The move will see charities, volunteers and holidaymakers prosecuted as 'smugglers' for helping desperate refugees. Please sign this petition to demand that the EU does not go through with this horrific proposal to punish people for saving human lives.
Refugees arriving on the Greek islands risk their lives to make a terrifying journey. They leave their homes behind because of violent wars and dangerous regimes. Many have seen loved ones die. They have no other option but to flee, and nowhere else to go. Hundreds of people, including children and babies, die during the crossing. It is a desperate last resort and they need our help.
The proposed state-run mechanism would require all volunteers to register, follow EU-sanctioned rescue plans, and work with police. This process would drastically limit operations and reduce the number of volunteers.
The refugee crisis is a very significant moment in European history. We are all responsible for those struggling to survive. Their suffering is man-made, and their hope can also only come from fellow humans. Please sign this petition to say NO to the Council of the European Union prosecuting people who try to save the lives of vulnerable refugees.
