The Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights expresses its deepest sorrow for the tragedy in Pylos and the tragic death of hundreds of migrants under conditions that flagrantly violate their fundamental human rights and human dignity. Our Foundation stands by the rescued persons and shares their pain for the loss of their loved ones. We encourage the continuing efforts of the Greek State to address all the difficulties imposed by the circumstances and to offer the greatest possible relief to the survivors.

This tragic incident also reveals the lacunae of the international and European legal frameworks with regard to protection; such lacunae do not seem to be duly addressed by the recent agreement on the path towards the adoption of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. Effectively responding to the phenomenon of human trafficking, as well as fighting against the perpetrators, remain a great challenge. States and International Institutions are called upon to join forces beyond politics or other expediencies, in order to respond more effectively to the challenges posed by such phenomena. We all owe it to the memory of the victims of this tragedy.