Open Arms is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation whose primary mission is to provide rapid emergency response and protection at sea to those trying to reach Europe while fleeing armed conflict, persecution or poverty. It also provides information and training on land to ensure that migrants can make informed decisions with complete freedom and awareness.

It focuses on monitoring and rescuing vessels in need of assistance in the central Mediterranean, safeguarding the lives of the most vulnerable during emergencies on land, and developing alternatives to irregular migration in countries such as Senegal by providing resources through information and community awareness initiatives. In parallel, it continues to denounce all injustices and human rights violations.

This photographic exhibition presents a compilation of missions carried out during the nine years of the organisation’s history.

Authors: Bruno Thevenin, Carlos Gil, Felipe Dana, Jean Marc, Juan Medina, Marcus Drinkwater, Olmo Calvo, Pablo Tosco, Santi Palacios and Xavier Beltral.