What is the day of remembrance and embrace?
On March 16, 2016, the Italian Senate approved the bill drawn up by Comitato 3 Ottobre for the establishment of the “Day of Remembrance and Reception”, aimed at creating a memory and culture of information and reception.
The “Day of Remembrance and Reception” is celebrated on October 3 every year and involves several municipalities, local communities and, in particular, many schools distributed throughout the country.
The commemoration and awareness activities directly involve refugees, survivors and relatives of the victims of the shipwreck of October 3, 2013 and other massacres at sea.
The “Day of Remembrance and Reception” has been held since 2014 and organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa. From 2014 to date, the initiative has involved more than 800 students from 300 schools in 22 EU countries.
Our campaign
The Protect people not borders (#protectpeoplenotborders) initiative was launched on the occasion of the ninth Day of Remembrance and Reception.
The October 3, 2013 shipwreck shook the consciences of our continent, laying bare the consequences of the absence of a real migration policy. Unfortunately, nine years later, people continue to die in the central and eastern Mediterranean, along the Atlantic and Balkan routes, in the English Channel and along the borders between Poland and Belarus.
Since that 2013 over 22,000 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean alone. As the October 3 Committee, we believe in a united, inclusive Europe that protects people and not borders. The initiative was created to fill the ethical void and disorientation with the active participation of the public and, in particular, the younger generation in order to stimulate them to become drivers of lasting change through dialogue.
The schools involved
From 2014 to date, the initiative has involved more than 800 students from 300 schools in 22 EU countries.
Below you can find the interactive map with all the schools that have participated in the “Day of Remembrance and Reception” from 2015 to date.
2022 Programme
On the occasion of the ninth “Day of Remembrance and Welcoming,” the “WELCOME EUROPE” project will bring students from all over Europe together with survivors and family members of the victims of the Mediterranean shipwrecks to the island from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
The WELCOME EUROPE project is part of the Fami Project “Gates of Europe 2020/2021” and involves the Comitato 3 ottobre together with the CPIA of
Agrigento, the Istituto Omnicomprensivo L. Pirandello of Lampedusa, the Istituto Comprensivo “Anna Frank” of Agrigento and the lead partner the Liceo Scientifico, Coreutico e Musicale G. Marconi of Pesaro. The days are carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa.
The project aims to strengthen the awareness and knowledge of young people of formative age on the issues of migration, global interdependence and human rights, cultural integration and the reception of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The objective is to promote in the young European generations learning opportunities – in the perspective of intercultural education – to foster a culture of welcome and solidarity in order to counter intolerance, racism and discrimination and promote processes of ‘inclusion and social integration of migrants.
Our partners
Istitutional partners
Partners
NGOs – Associations
European Union
Ministry of Education
Ministry of the Interior
Liceo Scientifico, Coreutico e Musicale G. Marconi di Pesaro
CPIA di Agrigento
Istituto Omnicomprensivo L. Pirandello di Lampedusa
Istituto Comprensivo “Anna Frank” di Agrigento.
Amnesty International
Asgi – Judicial Studies on Migration Association
Associazione Nazionale Vittime Civili di Guerra ( National Association for Civilian Victims of War)
Centro Astalli
Cisom –Italian Relief Corps of the Order of Malta –
Generazione Ponte
Doctors Without Borders
Save The Children
Unhcr
Refugees welcome
Legambiente
Italian Coast Guard
Divercity Festival
LABANOF (Forensic Anthropology and Odontology Laboratory, University of Milan)
Arising Africa
Dalla parte Giusta della Storia
City Rights United
Our Activities
In the days preceding the commemorative ceremony at the site of the shipwreck, students from all over Italy and Europe are invited to the island and participate in seminars, workshops, concerts and screenings focusing on the following themes:
- Migration
- Human Rights
- Racism and discrimination
- Migrants and Refugees Rights (with a special focus on minors)
- Rescue at Sea
- Practices related to reception and the institution of asylum