In February and March 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (the Court) delivered four judgments against Italy, concerning the right to life, prohibition of ill-treatment, and the right to respect for private life.

On 27 March, in the case of Laterza and D'errico v. Italy (no. 30336/22), the Court found that Italy had violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) due to its ineffective investigation into a work-related death, allegedly caused by exposure to toxic substances. The Court held that the investigation was not conducted properly and the decision to discontinue the criminal proceedings was not reasoned adequately, thereby failing to ensure an effective remedy for the applicant.

On the same day, in the case of Niort v. Italy (no. 4217/23), the Court ruled that the continued detention of a mentally ill offender, despite his psychiatric condition, and the fact that decisions regarding access to medical care had not been implemented at all or not within a reasonable time violated Articles 3, 6 § 1, and 38 of the ECHR.

On 13 February, in P.P. v. Italy  (no. 64066/19), the Court found that Italy had failed to properly investigate and respond to the applicant’s prolonged experience of domestic violence and harassment, in violation of prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment under Article 3 of the ECHR. 

Earlier, on 6 February, in Italgomme Pneumatici S.R.L. and others v. Italy  (no. 36617/18), the Court held that inspections conducted by tax authorities had violated the applicants’ right to respect for private life under Article 8 of the ECHR. 

These rulings underscore the Court’s continued emphasis on the respect by the State of procedural obligations for the effective protection of the rights and freedoms of the ECHR , such as the protection from inhuman and degrading treatment, the safeguarding of the rights to life and fair trial, as well as the respect for private life in Italy.