The UN Human Rights Committee ordered Malta on March 4, 2025, to urgently coordinate a rescue operation for 32 individuals in distress near the Miskar gas platform.
This is the first time the committee has taken such action. Malta must also ensure their safe disembarkation.
Despite previous alerts from Alarm Phone and a joint request from UpRights, StraLi, and SOS Humanity, Malta had not coordinated a rescue.
The rescue vessel Aurora, operated by Sea-Watch, finally saved the individuals.
“As a search and rescue organisation, we have been witnessing Malta’s deadly policy of non-assistance for many years,” says Mirka Schäfer, political spokesperson for SOS Humanity, in a press release sent to Famagusta Gazette.
“Time and again, Maltese authorities have refused to coordinate search and rescue operations with our rescue ship Humanity 1, even going so far as to hang up or play music when we call. Malta must be held accountable for behaviours of non-assistance and violation of the non-refoulement principle.”
The committee’s decision is legally binding and emphasizes Malta’s obligations under international law.
“We strongly welcome the Human Rights Committee’s response which is a crucial decision urging Malta to uphold its obligations under international law,” comments Valérie Gabard, co-Director of UpRights. “It is very concerning that the Maltese authorities did not react at any point despite the decision of the Committee. The decision recalls once again that Malta must adhere to its duty to coordinate rescues in its search and rescue zone. We demand that Malta ensures that people in distress are rescued and disembarked in a place of safety.”