The VII Naples Human Rights Film Festival of the Mediterranean was this year (20 – 25 October 2014, Naples – Italy) held under the patronage of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM).
PAM Secretary General, Amb. Sergio Piazzi, addressed the closing session of the Festival, which saw the participation of film producers, Human Rights activists, representatives from the civil society and students from different countries in the region.
“This is the first time that PAM participates at an event of this kind, which relies on the film industry to address and focus on human Rights and other social aspects. “Therefore, it is of utmost importance for our Assembly to work hand in hand with you, in order to further promote dialogue amongst civilizations and instil values of peace, solidarity and equality amongst our peoples”, Amb. Piazzi said.
The citizens of the Mediterranean cannot neglect or overlook the significance and the criticality of the current socio-political conditions in the region, as well as at a global level. “We cannot sit idle in the comfort of our living rooms when our brothers and sisters are enduring hardships and facing death on daily basis. We are all in one boat, and if one side of the boat leaks, the whole vessel sinks! So we must act, and we must act now”, the PAM Secretary General added.
PAM is strongly committed to the goals and ideals of the Film Forum, and the Assembly’s presence marks the beginning of a closer cooperation, which will grow and develop along the years.
The following day, the PAM Secretary General addressed the Session dedicated to “Human Rights: A prerequisite for social and production development – from the Gaza Strip emergency to migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees”, of the Forum of Mediterranean Cities, which was also held in Naples.
The debate dealt with the topic of human rights by means of an exchange on the dramatic aspects from the Gaza strip emergency to asylum-seekers and migrants escaping from all conflict areas. Participants included members from the European Parliament, International Parliamentary Assemblies, Governments, mayors and representatives of international organizations.
In his intervention, Amb. Piazzi gave an overview of the current state of affairs in the MENA region, with special emphasis on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Syria and Libya amongst others, and the role of PAM in helping achieve Human Rights, especially in the context of PAM cooperation with the UN and the UN Security Council.
“We must stand with our people in their pursuit of peace, development and human rights. Dialogue is the only way to end the suffering, restore stability and build a better future for the people”, Amb. Piazzi said in his concluding remarks.