The Memorandum on child poverty in Italy, published on the 23rd of July 2026  by the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, provides an analysis of child poverty in Italy following his official visit in January 2026. The document emphasizes that child poverty represents a critical human rights challenge that perpetuates intergenerationally, noting that over 1.28 million minors in Italy (13.8% of all children) live in absolute poverty. Minors and young adults remain disproportionately affected compared to older age groups. Furthermore, absolute poverty is strongly concentrated in the southern regions, urban peripheries, single-parent families, households with three or more children, and foreign-national households. Consecutive economic crises and inflation have eroded purchasing power, increasingly pushing working families into precarious financial situations.

While acknowledging Italy’s recognition of the problem and high level of public social spending, the Commissioner notes that the vast majority of social expenditure is devoted to pensions (15.9% of the GDP, the highest among OECD countries), leaving a lower proportion for family support and social services (5.4%) compared to similar European countries. The introduction of the “Assegno Unico e Universale” (AUU) in 2021 is highlighted as a positive step toward creating a universal safety net for families with children. However, the transition from the “Reddito di Cittadinanza” to the “Assegno d'Inclusione” (ADI) introduced stricter eligibility criteria, leaving many impoverished households without income support. Additionally, social services face severe shortages of social workers and psychologists, which are further compounded by budget reductions in key social funds.

Furthermore, the document highlights the multidimensional nature of poverty, placing particular attention to educational poverty as a major structural barrier. Italy faces ongoing challenges, including unequal access to nurseries and early childhood care, limited availability of school canteens and persistent rates of school dropouts. While recent initiatives under the EU-funded National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) have targeted these areas, concerns remain regarding the long-term sustainability of running these facilities once European funding expires. Moreover, many community-based and extra-curricular educational programs suffer from fragmented funding models.

The memorandum draws special attention to groups facing heightened marginalization. Indeed, single-parent families face severe income instability and childcare barriers. Roma children live in extreme poverty, inadequate living conditions in informal settlements without basic utilities, and forced evictions. Meanwhile, children without Italian citizenship encounter administrative hurdles, such as long-term residency requirements, that restrict access to basic social benefits. Unaccompanied foreign minors also face obstacles, including prolonged stays in reception facilities, delays in appointing legal guardians, and insufficient municipal resources.

To address these challenges, the Commissioner recommends that Italian national, regional, and municipal authorities establish a unified, human-rights-based national plan to eradicate child poverty. Recommendations include legally defining and funding essential levels of provision nationwide to reduce geographic disparities, providing accessible social allowances to prevent in-work poverty, and ensuring sustained national funding beyond the lifespan of EU recovery funds. Finally, the Commissioner emphasizes the need for targeted policies for marginalized groups, developed alongside civil society, and supported by independent monitoring mechanisms to safeguard children's rights.