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The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance, Lars Castellucci, is travelling to Italy
Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance and Member of the German Bundestag Lars Castellucci issued the following statement today (28 July 2025) prior to his departure for Italy:
As the number of crises and conflicts increases, so does the number of refugees and displaced persons. In 2024, more than 145,000 refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean towards Europe. Over 1100 of them lost their lives in the process, or are still missing. As the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance, I have made it my utmost priority to protect human lives.
That is why my first trip as Commissioner today is taking me to Italy, to get first-hand information about the situation at Europe’s external borders and a direct impression of the situation on the ground. It is important that we keep the public aware of this ongoing humanitarian crisis.
It is clear to me that migration can and must be organised. And in such a way that no-one has to lose their life. To that end, we need a humanitarian, regulated asylum and migration policy at European Union level that meets the needs of all sides. That is what I will work to achieve.
Background information:
Lars Castellucci MP assumed the post of Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance on 28 May 2025. In this capacity, he is travelling to Palermo and Lampedusa from 28 to 30 July. His first trip as Human Rights Commissioner will focus on search and rescue services in the Mediterranean. He will hold talks with representatives of Palermo prefecture, the Mayor of Lampedusa and representatives of non-governmental organisations. It is also planned that he go out on a Sea-Watch reconnaissance flight over the Mediterranean.