ITALY: New gov't told to end discrimination against Roma

Summary: Under the 'Nomad Emergency', government representatives in the regions were given authority to deviate from legislation that protects human rights and forced evictions of Roma communities became more frequent and were carried out with greater impunity.

[20 November 2011] - As prejudice and racism against travelling and gypsy people deepens disturbingly across Europe, a leading human rights NGO has spoken out on behalf of Roma in Italy.

Amnesty International has called on the Italian authorities to end discriminatory measures against Roma after the country’s 'Nomad Emergency' decrees were declared unlawful by the country's highest administrative court.

The Italian Council of State has ruled to end the 'Nomad Emergency', which has exposed Roma communities to serious human rights violations since it was introduced three years ago.

"Ending the 'Nomad Emergency' is a step in the right direction - it was unlawful and should have never been declared,” said Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty’s Director for Europe and Central Asia.

“The Italian government now has a responsibility to provide effective remedies to all the Roma families who suffered forced evictions and other human rights violations during the 'Nomad Emergency'.”

In May 2008, the Italian government declared a state of emergency around settlements of nomad communities in the regions of Lombardy, Campania and Lazio.

This was supposedly to address a “situation of grave social alarm, with possible repercussions for the local population in terms of public order and security".

The emergency was later extended to the regions of Piedmont and Veneto.

Under the 'Nomad Emergency', government representatives in the regions were given authority to deviate from legislation that protects human rights and forced evictions of Roma communities became more frequent and were carried out with greater impunity.

"The 'Nomad Emergency' has exposed thousands of Roma to human rights abuses and aggravated discrimination against them," declared Nicola Duckworth.

“The new Italian government must now end discriminatory policies and practices that have targeted Roma for years. This is certainly not the end of the story, but may well be a new beginning.” 

Further Information: 

• SERBIA: Authorities must halt eviction of Romani families (11 November 2001)
• ITALY: Romani families forced onto the street by continuing evictions in Rome (31 October 2011) 
• DISCRIMINATION: No Place for Roma - French and Italian authorities aggressively evict Roma (11 August 2011)
• PORTUGAL: ERRC Appeals to Authorities to Restore Water in Romani Community (10 February 2011) 
• ITALY: Outrage over death of four Roma children (8 February 2011)
• ITALY: Rome prepares to demolish 200 illegal Gypsy camps (7 September 2010)
• EUROPE: EU turning blind eye to discrimination against Roma (2 August 2010) 
• DISCRIMINATION: Portugal brought before European Tribunal for Roma housing situation (13 May 2010) 
• ITALY: The wrong answer - Italy's 'Nomad Plan' violates the housing rights of Roma in Rome (12 March 2010) 
• ITALY: Plight of Roma children still a worry, despite positive steps, says Commissioner (20 January 2009)
• ITALY: EU clears Italian plans to fingerprint Roma (11 September 2008)
• ITALY: State blasted on plan to fingerprint Roma children (6 July 2008)
• ITALY: Roma girls' corpses on beach fail to put off sunbathers (21 July 2008)
• ITALY: Separate school buses for traveller children proposed (14 January 2008)
• CRIN's microsite on children and discrimination
• Read a briefing on discrimination and Roma children here.
• More on children's rights in Italy