Security a la Italiana: Fingerprinting, Extreme Violence and Harassment of Roma in Italy

11 September 2008

Security a la Italiana: Fingerprinting, Extreme Violence and Harassment of Roma in Italy

In Italy, expressions of racism and xenophobia against Roma reached new and astounding proportions in 2008. This report includes information and analysis about the implications of Romani migration within the EU, changes in Italy's political climate since the April 2008 elections, legal and policy developments targeting Roma under the new government, increased levels of police abuse and ill-treatment of Roma and the failure of the Italian government to condemn and prosecute extreme acts of violence and discrimination against Roma by non-state actors. It concludes with a series of recommended actions for the Italian government and intergovernmental bodies to end extreme violations of the rights of Roma living in Italy. This report is the result of documentation by a coalition of organisations including the European Roma Rights Centre, the Open Society Institute, the Center on Housing Rights and Evictions, Romani Criss and the Roma Civic Alliance in Romania in response to political and legal developments and the most recent wave of racism and xenophobia against Roma in Italy.

NEW REPORT in English, Italian and Romanian: Security a la Italiana: Fingerprinting, Extreme Violence and Harassment of Roma in Italy.