ERRC/osservAzione Request Urgent Action by Italian Authorities in Response to Anti-Romani Pacts

23 May 2007

Urgent Action on Romani Housing Rights Issues in Italy

On 23 May 2007, the ERRC and partner organisation osservAzione sent a letter to the highest Italian authorities calling for urgent action to rescind recently signed "Pacts for Security" in Rome and Milan, which foresee the forced eviction of more than 10,000 Roma. The letter, which was sent to the Italian President, the President of the Italian Council of Ministers, the Minister of Interior and the Italian anti-discrimination body UNAR, called on Italian authorities to respect their international law obligations and adopt housing policies and programmes which avoid homelessness and the further segregation of Roma, and which provide real and adequate housing solutions for the Roma in Italy. In their letter, which was copied to relevant European and international agencies, the ERRC and osservAzione recalled the December 2005 decision of the European Committee of Social Rights, which found Italy in violation of the housing rights guarantees contained in the Revised European Social Charter with respect to Roma. The full text of the letter can be viewed .

• Rome Pact:
• Milan Pact: