As Africans living in Europe face increasingly testing times, Reggie Tagoe reports on how the Italian Government is putting in place new measures against racial discrimination.

Scanning through Italian journals over the past few weeks it does seem that the Italian Government is changing its policies on immigrants in the country; policies that have long faced sharp criticisms.

If you live in Italy as an immigrant, the racism factor - discrimination, ambiguous and sometimes absurd laws - are issues that you have to deal with. However, recent developments indicate that the Government is putting in measures to curb these uncomfortable situations faced by immigrants in the country.

A new office under the Government named, ‘Ufficio Nationale Antidiscriminazioni Razziali’ (U.N.A.R.) - The National Office Against Racial Discrimination - has been set up, tasked with the objective of checking and guaranteeing just treatment for anyone who has been a victim of any form of discrimination or harassment due to his/her origin or colour.

U.N.A.R.

U.N.A.R. has set up a toll free number, 800.90.10.10, in the country accessible between Monday and Friday from 10.am to 8p.m. There are operators answering calls in Italian, English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Romanian and Chinese. They provide information, offer orientation and support to victims of racial discrimination and by calling the toll free number, you can report or tell of incidents, events, and discriminatory actions based on race or ethnics.

My source of information tells me that, where possible, the contact centre uses its expertise to help with the resolution of cases and supports the victim in protecting his/her experience. They will also promote studies, research, courses and the exchange of experiences, thereby helping to remove any obstacles with access to public and private services, as well as providing full awareness of the individual’s civil and social rights.

U.N.A.R. also offers assistance and support in legal or administrative procedures and can carry out autonomous investigating to verify the existence of discriminatory phenomenon. Reading through the lines, I’m further told, the office can carry out informal reconciliation in order to avoid taking legal action. The aim of such a move is always to rapidly remove discriminatory behaviour.

That’s not all. U.N.A.R. is also committed to targeting public opinion through awareness raising campaigns, education in school and information at the work place. This is aimed at preventing the development of discriminatory behaviour, eliminating any disadvantages based on race or ethnicity and ensuring that equal treatment of all becomes the cultural norm.

Each year, according to sources, U.N.A.R. will prepare a report to the Italian Parliament on the real application of the principles of equal treatment of all and on the efficacy of the mechanisms for preventing racial discrimination. The organisation will also report to the Prime Minister on its activities, making political organs and public opinion aware of its progress and highlighting any problems encountered in fighting racial discrimination.

Upcoming Legislation on Immigration

From another source, I have learned that new rules for granting Italian citizenship and immigrants’ rights to vote are likely to be examined by Parliament. The Government is also considering a Bill before Parliament which includes making triennial plans for entering foreign workers, thus making it easier for highly qualified foreign workers to come to Italy to look for work.

The Bill before Parliament also aims at simplifying the documents and bureaucratic procedures immigrants have to undergo, enabling their Permit of Stay to be valid for longer periods and eventually transferring the renewal of the Staying Permit from the ‘Questura’ (Police Office) to the ‘Comune’ (City Councils). If approved as it is, the Bill would enable immigrants to play an active role in public life by granting them right to vote in local elections.

On the proposed Bill before Parliament, the Italian Minister of Social Solidarity, Paolo Ferrero, said, “We now have to wait and see how many of these proposals would be approved”. He would like the Bill to be approved speedily, adding, “It’s shameful that a person who has a right to the Permit Stay must wait for 12 – 16 months.”

The Minister could not have said it better in his last statement. Some of the Italian laws on immigrants are clearly discriminatory. Changes are needed but, in Italy, it takes not only time but an awful lot of time for changes to be made as much of the political thinking is stuck in a bygone era.

Let’s hope that with these latest developments, the Government will wise up and carry out the necessary reforms to immigration laws in the country.

Reggie Tagoe is a freelance Ghanaian journalist resident in Italy.