The Committee welcomed some legislative, institutional and policy mesures of Italy, including the regulation of civil unions of same-sex couples and cohabitation, the National Action Plan against Trafficking and Serious Exploitation 2016-2018, law No.119/2013 against gender-based violence, the National Inclusion Strategy for Roma, Sinti and Camminanti communities, as well as the ratification of some international instruments, among which the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. However, the Committee recognized the lack of a comprehensive legislation against discrimination in all areas, the increasing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and the persistence of stereotyping, stigmatization and racist discourse against Roma, Sinti, and Camminanti communities and non-nationals by local public officials and the media. The Committee also remained concerned about the failure by law No. 10 of 2017 to introduce into the Criminal Code the crime of torture in the meaning of the relevant international legal instruments, and the excessive use of force and mistreatment by public officials, especially in so-called “hotspots”. Regarding migration, the Committee was concerned with the increase of unaccompanied minors arriving in Italy, and the labour exploitation faced by migrant workers. The Committee also expressed perplexities regarding other aspects, such as the persistent overcrowding of prisons, the special detention regime ex article 41 bis of the penitentiary system, the length of court proceedings.
Human Rights Committee, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 40 of the Covenant, Sixth periodic reports of States parties due in 2009. Italy, CCPR/C/ITA/6, 16 November 2015