The municipality of Rome should step up its support to Roma and refugees
Letter to the Mayor of Rome
STRASBOURG 11/12/2013
"The situation of Roma and refugees in Italy is a
long-standing concern. Local authorities, including in Rome, have an important
role to play in improving the living conditions of these people," said
today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while
releasing a letter addressed to the Mayor of Rome, Mr Ignazio Marino.
The letter draws the Mayor's attention to two concerns
raised in the Commissioner's report on Italy published in September 2012,
namely the segregation of Roma and Sinti on the one hand, and the living
conditions and integration of beneficiaries of international or humanitarian
protection on the other.
"I have been following with attention the housing
situation of Roma and Sinti in Italy, including Rome, in order to monitor
progress towards the discontinuation of policies of forced evictions and
segregated camps for Roma and Sinti. Difficulties in accessing social housing
for Roma living in formal camps were reported to me. I call on Rome's
authorities to ensure the possibility for Roma and Sinti living in these camps
to have access to social housing on an equal footing with the rest of the
population."
Noting with concern the forced eviction in September
2013 of Roma families from the informal camp of Salviati and their relocation
to the formal camp of Castel Romano against their will, the Commissioner
expresses his concerns about the reported lack of genuine consultation with the
inhabitants, despite their appeal for dialogue with the municipality.
"International standards on the right to adequate housing, which establish
that evictions should only take place as a last resort and following
appropriate procedural safeguards, including genuine consultation, might have
not been properly upheld. It is time that forced evictions and segregated camps
be relegated to the past and ordinary housing solutions be found for Roma and
Sinti."
Furthermore, the Commissioner remains deeply concerned
about the situation of refugees and beneficiaries of international or
humanitarian protection, many of whom face abject destitution. Referring in
particular to those living in the so-called ‘Selam Palace', which he visited in
July 2012, the Commissioner welcomes that the Mayor of Rome has personally
visited the building and that the situation concerning residence registration
has improved considerably. "Nonetheless, there are reports that the number
of people living in the building has increased to around 1250 persons and that
the sanitary conditions have further deteriorated. I hope that adequate
solutions will be found in close consultation with the people concerned."
The Commissioner underlined in his letter that the
integration of refugees and other beneficiaries of protection required urgent
action from the Italian government, as well as regional and municipal
authorities.
Read the Commissioner's letter in Italian
The response of the Municipal Counselor for Social
Affairs of the City of Rome is available here. (in Italian)
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