Culture And Media
Italy: Policy on immigrants 'lacks human rights', says top rights watchdog
Strasbourg, 29 July (AKI) - Europe's top human rights watchdog, The Council of Europe criticised Italy in a report on Tuesday for its policy on immigrants, saying that it lack human rights and may increase racism.
"Concern about security cannot be the only basis for immigration policy," said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg in a statement.
"Measures now being taken in Italy lack human rights and humanitarian principles and may spur further xenophobia," he said .
Hammarberg published a report on Italy's immigration policy based on a two-day visit to Rome in June.
The visit came after a series of anti-Roma Gypsy protests, which were occasionally violent, and the rapid adoption or preparation of new legislation on immigrants in Italy.
The measures were notably aimed at introducing further controls on the freedom of movement of Roma and Sinti, a related people. It also includes the criminalisation of irregular immigration and additional restrictions on immigration.
Hammarberg voiced strong concern at the "security package" that appears to target Roma immigrants, and at the declaration of states of emergency in three Italian regions.
"Roma and Sinti are in urgent need of effective protection of their human rights, including their social rights, such as the right to adequate housing and to education," he said.
"Adopting the state of emergency and providing greater powers to the "Special Commissioners" and the police is not the right approach to deal with the needs of Roma and Sinti populations."
Hammarbreg also expressed his serious concern at the expected extension of the state of emergency to the entire country.
He also criticised the decision to criminalise migrants' entry and irregular stay. He sees this as a worrying departure from established international law principles.
Last Wednesday, the Italian Senate passed for the first time, measures that make illegal immigration as an "aggravating circumstance" punishable with a custodial sentence of between six months and four years in prison.
"These measures may make it more difficult for refugees to ask for asylum and is likely to result in a further social stigmatisation and marginalisation of all migrants - including Roma," he said.
The new law extends the period of time for which illegal immigrants may be detained from two to 18 months.
It also allows the government to deploy soldiers to work with police in high crime areas.
Hammarberg also noted with grave concern that Italy had forcibly returned migrants to certain countries with proven records of torture, as it happened with a Tunisian citizen expelled on the orders of the Interior Minister, using the law on emergency measures to combat terrorism.
The Council of Europe also urged the Italian authorities to proceed promptly to the establishment of an effective national human rights institution, in order to reinforce the system of protection in the country.
"Concern about security cannot be the only basis for immigration policy," said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg in a statement.
"Measures now being taken in Italy lack human rights and humanitarian principles and may spur further xenophobia," he said .
Hammarberg published a report on Italy's immigration policy based on a two-day visit to Rome in June.
The visit came after a series of anti-Roma Gypsy protests, which were occasionally violent, and the rapid adoption or preparation of new legislation on immigrants in Italy.
The measures were notably aimed at introducing further controls on the freedom of movement of Roma and Sinti, a related people. It also includes the criminalisation of irregular immigration and additional restrictions on immigration.
Hammarberg voiced strong concern at the "security package" that appears to target Roma immigrants, and at the declaration of states of emergency in three Italian regions.
"Roma and Sinti are in urgent need of effective protection of their human rights, including their social rights, such as the right to adequate housing and to education," he said.
"Adopting the state of emergency and providing greater powers to the "Special Commissioners" and the police is not the right approach to deal with the needs of Roma and Sinti populations."
Hammarbreg also expressed his serious concern at the expected extension of the state of emergency to the entire country.
He also criticised the decision to criminalise migrants' entry and irregular stay. He sees this as a worrying departure from established international law principles.
Last Wednesday, the Italian Senate passed for the first time, measures that make illegal immigration as an "aggravating circumstance" punishable with a custodial sentence of between six months and four years in prison.
"These measures may make it more difficult for refugees to ask for asylum and is likely to result in a further social stigmatisation and marginalisation of all migrants - including Roma," he said.
The new law extends the period of time for which illegal immigrants may be detained from two to 18 months.
It also allows the government to deploy soldiers to work with police in high crime areas.
Hammarberg also noted with grave concern that Italy had forcibly returned migrants to certain countries with proven records of torture, as it happened with a Tunisian citizen expelled on the orders of the Interior Minister, using the law on emergency measures to combat terrorism.
The Council of Europe also urged the Italian authorities to proceed promptly to the establishment of an effective national human rights institution, in order to reinforce the system of protection in the country.
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