Why didn’t MSF sign Italy’s Code of Conduct for NGOs at sea? | Webclip | English

Médecins Sans Frontières formally informed the Italian Ministry of the Interior on the 31st of July that it would not be signing the Code of Conduct for NGOs operating rescue ships on the Mediterranean because several commitments included in the Code of Conduct could result in a decrease in the efficiency and capacity of the current search and rescue response with dire humanitarian consequences. Here is a quick explainer with some more specific reasons why from Project Coordinator of the MSF Prudence, Stephan Van Diest. More information can be found in the PR release of July 31st as well as the accompanying letter to the Ministry of Interior.

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Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF204554

Date taken / Date Recorded 02/08/2017 12:00 AM

Country Mediterranean Sea

Commissioning section MSF-BELGIUM

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m15s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 160.09 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Titles
Why didn’t MSF sign Italy’s Code of Conduct for NGOs at sea?

NO ARMS ON BOARD

EVERY MINUTE MATTERS WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO SAVE LIVES

SEARCH & RESCUE SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF NGOS

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Subtitles

00:00 - 00:01
Welcome to the VOS Prudence

00:01 - 00:05
one of MSF's rescue vessels
in the Mediterranean.

00:05 - 00:08
Currently we are in standby,
looking out for any boat in distress.

00:13 - 00:17
MSF attended a couple of meetings
with the Ministry of Interior

00:17 - 00:21
to express our concerns about the
Code of Conduct, in which we asked

00:21 - 00:22
for some amendments.

00:22 - 00:26
But in its current form,
we cannot sign the Code of Conduct

00:26 - 00:30
because it will lead to less rescue
capacity in the sea.

00:30 - 00:33
With, as a result, probably
more deaths as well,

00:33 - 00:35
and we cannot sign that.

00:39 - 00:43
We are ok, with having police
officers boarding our boat

00:43 - 00:45
but not when they are armed.

00:45 - 00:49
Never we accept arms in any
of our projects all over the world,

00:49 - 00:54
because this jeopardises our independence,
our impartiality and neutrality.

00:54 - 00:58
Especially in conflict areas,
in the world.

00:58 - 01:05
Frankly, we are not here to collect evidence,
we are here, as humanitarians, to save lives.

01:11 - 01:16
Transfers are an important part,
of any proper Search & Rescue mechanism.

01:16 - 01:19
In the previous years,
they've always been conducted

01:19 - 01:23
under the direction of the
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome.

01:23 - 01:29
By limiting transfers of
the people we rescue

01:29 - 01:35
even small vessels are forced
to disembark people in Italy.

01:35 - 01:41
As a result, there will be less of these
vessels in the Search & Rescue area

01:41 - 01:45
which, probably will lead to more deaths.

01:50 - 01:54
Search and Rescue is the responsibility
of the EU member states

01:54 - 01:58
and not of NGOs.
MSF is filling a gap.

01:58 - 02:03
And if there are not any improvements
MSF will stay in the area to save lives

02:03 - 02:08
and we will do this according to the
national, international and maritime laws.