On Sept. 2nd FOR A THOUSAND LIVES: BE HUMAN, an initiative of the European film community was launched in favour of the rights of the refugees arriving to Europe.

More than 5,000 cinema professionals have backed the campaign with their signatures.

José Luis Rebordinos, the Festival Director, and all members of the San Sebastian International Film Festival Management Committee, join the appeal at this closing ceremony, also backing the campaign and asking the European authorities for the following considerations:

• The European Union must offer legal ways for people fleeing war, terror, or political persecution to seek protection in the E.U. by setting up infrastructures in their countries of origin, and in third party countries, where they can apply for asylum. This will stop forcing them to take illegal routes, and risk their lives.

• European nations must act in solidarity as we are facing the biggest refugee crisis since WWII. The Dublin convention has obviously led to absurd and unjust burdens for the border countries of the E.U. Consequently, immediately repealing the Dublin convention and enforcing a better division of refugees among the E.U. states is a must.

• The European Countries must create living conditions for refugees that embrace human rights, personal freedom, dignity and physical safety without restriction, and devote the necessary means to ensure that refugees can work legally, get access to education and build a new life.