Human Rights at Sea Announces New Supporter

Human Rights at Sea is pleased to announce that the NGO ProActiva Open Arms has joined with the charity as a Supporting Entity enabling overt and mutual support to respective work areas.

Proactiva Open Arms, an NGO based in Barcelona (Spain), was founded in September 2015 in order to carry out safety and rescue tasks for migrants crossing the Aegean from Turkey to Lesvos. Its founder and experienced lifeguard, Oscar Camps, arrived in Lesbos with 15,000 euros from his savings, and his team, and were the first professional lifeguard volunteers in the island. 

Thanks to a long-lasting crowdfunding campaign the team has been able to remain in Lesvos, and to acquire SAR boats and professional equipment for their tasks. They have helped to arrive safely onshore over 140,000 migrants up to now. The next mission will start in June 2016 in the Central Mediterranean with a new boat adapted to the new area of operations.

Human Rights at Sea CEO David Hammond commented that “It is a pleasure to be able to support yet another professional humanitarian NGO whose focus is on saving life. Our charity is building a track record of supporting such organizations alongside our growing network of global contacts in areas of SAR, equipment provision, maritime advisory and legal expertise, all of whom are assisting us to grow this international maritime human rights community.”