ENRICO CALAMAI A life for human rights

Buenos Aires 1972. The young diplomat Enrico Calamai was sent to Argentina, as his first destination, with the position of vice consul. The following year, in Chile,
a violent military coup overthrew the legitimately elected government of Salvador Allende. Italy did not recognize the government of General Pinochet, withdrew diplomatic representation and recalled the ambassador to Rome. In the Italian embassy 412 refugees, including 50 children, requested political asylum. Calamai was recalled from Argentina and sent to Santiago. Thanks to his commitment, a compromise solution was reached: all the refugees would leave but immediately afterwards the Chilean military would surround the building so as to no longer allow access.
Returned again to Buenos Aires, after the military coup of 24 March 1976, Calamai, with
the help of the Corriere della Sera journalist, Giangiacomo Foà and the trade unionist Filippo Di Benedetto, managed to save and expatriate hundreds of political opponents of the regime, putting their lives at risk several times.
Calamai, one of the founders of the Committee for the promotion and protection of human rights, was decorated with the Orden del Libertador General San Martín, on 10 December 2004, at the embassy of the Argentine Republic in Italy.
Enrico Calamai “A life for human rights” tells a story of courage, dignity, ideals and resistance.