Giuseppina Nicolini (Lampedusa, 1961) is Mayor of the island of Lampedusa, which, because of its geographical location, has been receiving thousands and thousands of immigrants fleeing from war, violence, intolerance and poverty. Leading by her example, she has put a stop to the activities of the local mafia and mobilised the entire population to protect the honour and dignity of the newcomers.
She has repeatedly denounced the silence of European institutions and their failure to give a decent reception to those who arrive, dead or alive, on the shores of the island. She has demanded aid and infrastructures, such as mortuaries, funeral and burial sites, as well as decent shelter and humanitarian corridors to Europe for those who have managed to reach the continent alive. She and most of her fellow citizens have transformed the island of Lampedusa and have shown an example of solidarity and humanity that we would like to see throughout Europe.
LiberPress Catalonia Award 2016
Giuseppina Nicolini, Mayor of Lampedusa, received the 2016 LiberPress Catalonia Award for her extraordinary work on behalf of refugees and immigrants; for her ability to mobilise and organise her community to achieve a decent and humane space for people fleeing war and poverty; for making Lampedusa a great example for us all: a wonderful island offering welcome and solidarity; for her commitment and her struggle to change the right to asylum and raise awareness of this humanitarian problem. Through her we would like to honour all those on the island who have shown solidarity and goodwill.