In Italy, there is an independent body responsible for protecting the rights of persons deprived of their liberty: the National Guarantor. Although it was established in 2013, it only became fully operational in 2016. Its main task is to visit and monitor places such as prisons, immigrant centres, psychiatric wards and other settings where people are in a condition of deprivation or restriction of their liberty, Reporting any problems and working with the authorities to find solutions. After each visit, the Supervisor prepares a report with observations and recommendations addressed to the competent authorities , which is then published online.

In addition to this monitoring activity, three important tasks have been assigned to this body. The first is related to the prevention of torture, as required by a UN protocol, and provides for the coordination of regional Guarantors to ensure effective monitoring. The second concerns the control of forced returns of illegal aliens, in line with a European directive. Finally, the Supervisor also monitors facilities for elderly and disabled people, ensuring that their rights are respected, as provided by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The national supervisor is organised into a college of three members: one president and two members, appointed for a non-renewable term of five years. To ensure independence and competence, the members may not be civil servants and must have experience in human rights protection. They are appointed by decree of the President of the Republic, on a proposal from the Council of Ministers and after consulting the competent parliamentary committees.

The members of the Guarantor may not assume institutional or political positions and, in case of resignation, death, incompatibility, impediment or serious breaches of duties, they are immediately replaced. The same applies if they are finally convicted of a non-culpable offence.

At present, the National Supervisor’s College is composed of the following members:

• Riccardo Turrini Vita, President: former magistrate and director of the prison administration, was appointed President by decree of the President of the Republic on 31 October 2024.
• Irma Conti, Component: lawyer with experience in the field of human rights, appointed member of the College by decree of the President of the Republic on 21 December 2023.
• Mario Serio, Component: former university professor and jurist of recognized competence, appointed member of the college by decree of the President of the Republic on 21 December 2023.

The office of the National Guarantor is located in Rome, in via di San Francesco di Sales n. 34, and is made up of a maximum of 25 staff, mainly from the Ministry of Justice and, in command position, from other public administrations.