ROME - On Thursday 11 April at 10.30 a.m., at the Garden of the Righteous of Humanity in Rome, Villa Pamphilj (entrance via della Nocetta, 30), a ceremony will be held to recognise new Righteous, as part of the celebrations linked to the Day of the Righteous of Humanity.

During the ceremony two olive trees will be planted to honour the memory of Giacomo Matteotti and Alexei Navalny, two people who in distant historical and geographical contexts sacrificed their lives in defence of democracy. Next to the two plants will be placed stones with the names of the dedicatees, donated respectively by the Matteotti Foundation and the Project MEAN.

Giacomo Matteotti is being honoured on the centenary of his murder, which occurred after he denounced the illegalities of Benito Mussolini's nascent dictatorship. The death of Russian political prisoner Alexei Navalny, which took place in the penal colony of Charp on 16 February, also reminds us that 'the Righteous is also the one who redeems the silent majority with his cry', as Russian journalist Anna Zafesova wrote.

The Garden of the Righteous of Humanity in Rome was inaugurated in March 2018 to commemorate the Righteous, those people who during genocides and the darkest moments of history did their utmost to defend human dignity and oppose all forms of prejudice, even risking their lives.

The Roman Garden, located in the former agricultural area of Villa Pamphilj, is part of the international network of the Gardens of the Righteous of Humanity coordinated by the Gariwo Foundation (an acronym for Gardens of the Righteous Worldwide) which has been promoting the memory and stories of the Righteous for over 25 years. In 2012 Gariwo obtained recognition of the Day of the Righteous of Humanity with a declaration by the European Parliament. The Day of the Righteous has been also declared a civil solemnity in Italy in 2017 with law no. 212. All public initiatives linked to the Day of the Righteous of Humanity can be checked at www.6march.eu

At the ceremony in Villa Pamphilj on 11 April - promoted with the support of the Councilor for Agriculture, Environment and Waste Cycle, the Presidency of the XII Municipality and its Departments - city authorities, personalities representing the Righteous honoured, the world of associations and schools in the Roman territory will be invited.