COLLECTIVE COMPLAINT: ERRC v. ITALY
21 December 2004
Revised European Social Charter
Systemic Violations of the Right to Adequate Housing
Housing arrangements for Roma in Italy aim at separating Roma from the mainstream of Italian society and holding them in artificial exclusion. As such, they block possibilities for integration and subject Roma to the very serious harm of segregation on racial grounds. In a number of Romani settlements in Italy, very extremely inadequate housing conditions prevail, threatening the health and even the lives of their Romani inhabitants.
In addition, Italian authorities regularly and systematically subject Roma to forced evictions from housing, calling seriously into question Italy's compliance with a number of international laws. During eviction raids, authorities arbitrarily destroy property belonging to Roma, use abusive language, and otherwise humiliate evictees. In many cases, persons expelled from housing have been rendered homeless as a result of actions by police and local authorities. In some instances, in the course of such evictions, Roma have been collectively expelled from Italy. A very significant part of Italy's Romani population lives under constant threat of forced eviction.
Admissibility decision by the European Committee of Social Rights:
- CoE Decision
Further information on the ERRC Collective Complaint against Italy is available from ERRC Programmes Director Claude Cahn: (36 20) 98 36 445,
