The Right to Asylum

The Right to Asylum, as described in the Charter of Palermo (2015), affirms that people fleeing persecution, conflict, or serious threats to their safety must have access to protection regardless of nationality or migration status. The Charter treats asylum as a core human right rooted in the protection of human dignity and the obligation to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

Addressing migration across the Mediterranean, the document stresses that those seeking protection must be able to safely reach places where they can request asylum and have their claims fairly considered. It raises concerns about policies that block access to territory or otherwise prevent migrants from seeking protection, arguing that such practices effectively undermine the right to asylum.

Although the Charter is best known for advocating international mobility as a fundamental human right, its discussion of asylum highlights the continuing responsibility of governments and public institutions to protect people escaping danger. It encourages authorities—including city governments—to uphold the rights and dignity of asylum seekers and ensure that protection is not denied through restrictive border policies or administrative barriers.

  • “The Palermo government, the mayor of Palermo, or the Italian government help us, we came here to do everything right, we don't want to do anything that isn't illegal, we live here in fear. Because we fled our country.”

    —Odom Azubest

  • "I would like to see change, first of all... The division of society into two groups: migrants and citizens. In a society, everyone should have the same rights. We must treat everyone the same way, as human beings, because we are all human. Whether you're a migrant, a normal traveler, or anything else."

    —Migrant from Tunisia