Italy - May 2023

The Italian government passed a new law to combat irregular migration, restricting the rights of migrants to seek special protection, access fair asylum procedures, and enjoy freedom of movement.  Analysts flagged that the decree is not effective in addressing human trafficking as intended and that it harms migrants already living in Italy. Human Rights Watch has said the authorities introduced the legislative changes through an emergency decree measure and by restricting parliamentary oversight. Rights organizations in Italy also expressed their concern over the authorities’ use of extraordinary measures and the declaration of a state of emergency in April to address enduring and systemic challenges such as migration.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, European Council of Refugees and Exiles (1), European Council of Refugees and Exiles (2), Il Domani, Integrazione Migranti, Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, European Council of Refugees and Exiles (3), Forum nazionale per cambiare l’ordine delle cose