Following a visit to Italy from January 12 to 16, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Michael O'Flaherty, called on the national authorities to strengthen the national system for the protection of human rights, including through the establishment of an independent national human rights institution (NHRI), and to intensify efforts to eradicate persistent child poverty.

The Commissioner noted that Italy remains one of the few member states of the Council of Europe without a national human rights institution or concrete progress towards its establishment. While noting that several legislative proposals have been put forward, he encouraged the authorities to consider this issue a priority. The model chosen should be appropriate to the national context and, in any case, fully compliant with the Paris Principles, in order to obtain “A status” accreditation from the Global Alliance of NHRIs. The Commissioner reiterated that an NHRI must be fully independent in its structure, mandate, staffing, and organizational culture, have a broad human rights mandate, and sufficient resources to operate effectively.

The Commissioner stressed that the reforms required by EU legislation, such as the adoption of minimum standards for equality bodies and the establishment of independent monitoring mechanisms for border screening procedures and the use of artificial intelligence, represent an opportunity to review and strengthen the current Italian human rights protection architecture. Strengthening their independence, including through transparent, participatory, and merit-based appointment procedures, as well as ensuring adequate resources and staffing, is essential.

With regard to child poverty, the Commissioner welcomed the measures taken by Italy to combat it, in particular the introduction of the Assegno Unico e Universale (Universal Child Allowance) in 2022. He acknowledged the constant attention paid by successive governments to the high levels of child poverty, including through initiatives to protect children from cuts affecting other social groups. He also noted that all the interlocutors he met recognized the urgency and scale of the challenge.

However, data from reliable sources, such as ISTAT and Caritas, continue to paint a worrying picture. Levels of absolute and relative poverty remain well above the European Union average and affect children unequally depending on their location and social context, perpetuating themselves from generation to generation. This highlights the need for more incisive and effective policy responses.

In this context, the Commissioner urged the authorities to develop a comprehensive strategy across all areas of government action to eliminate child poverty, based on a human rights-based approach and building on existing sectoral initiatives. Policies should address the multiple dimensions of child poverty, including education, health, and social protection, and be designed and implemented at the national level in close cooperation with local authorities and civil society. Adequate and sustainable funding is essential to ensure lasting investment in children beyond the exhaustion of current European and national resources. Particular attention should be paid to services such as school canteens, which are essential not only for ensuring adequate nutrition but also for promoting school attendance.

Recognizing the complexity of the challenge, the Commissioner stressed the importance of effective coordination between different levels of government. In this regard, he highlighted the need to establish Essential Levels of Performance (LEP) throughout the country in a timely manner, accompanied by adequate resources, in order to ensure the social rights of children in a uniform manner, particularly in areas where poverty is most concentrated.

Specific attention should be paid to the most disadvantaged children, including non-citizens without long-term residence permits and children belonging to Roma communities. The criteria for access to services should not exclude children living in poverty, and marginalization should be combated through greater investment in inclusive social and structural measures.