Italy must urgently protect evicted migrant workers from exploitation, say UN rights experts

GENEVA (13 March 2019) – Italy must act urgently to protect hundreds of migrant workers evicted from an informal settlement in Calabria, say UN human rights experts*.

The informal settlement in San Ferdinando, which housed about 2,000 people, was cleared by the authorities between 6 and 8 March.

“There is no doubt that conditions did not conform to human rights standards, and were abysmal and completely unsustainable, but we are deeply concerned about the absence of adequate alternative options for the people who were living in the informal settlement,” the experts said.

“The authorities failed to explore all alternative options to avoid the evictions, as required under international human rights law.

The forced eviction has further increased the pressure on the migrant women and men, who are mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, and are now facing even greater difficulties.”

Most of the camp’s residents worked in the nearby orange groves. Hundreds of them moved away in early March after they were informed of the imminent evacuation.

Some residents with “humanitarian protection” status were transferred to a tented encampment set up locally by the San Ferdinando authorities. However, this has led to overcrowding, with between 800 and 900 people currently being housed there.

About 200 others were transferred to alternative reception facilities but a similar number are reported to have nowhere to stay because their situation remains “irregular” while their legal status is under consideration.

“We are particularly concerned about the fate of up to 200 migrant women who lived at the informal settlement before the eviction, as it is not clear what has happened to them,” the experts said.

“Resettling migrant workers in tents is not an adequate, sustainable solution. Evictions that leave people homeless or in grossly inadequate housing conditions are considered forced evictions under international human rights law and are a gross violation of human rights.”

Informal settlements should preferably be upgraded in situ, but where this is not possible, residents should be moved to adequate alternative housing as close as possible to where they lived before, the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing said.

The UN experts urged the Government of Italy to ensure the protection of all migrants, regardless of their status, as well as their access to decent housing, sanitation and healthcare.

“Deliberately depriving them of their livelihoods and basic dignity leaves them at considerably greater risk of falling prey to criminals seeking to exploit them,” the UN experts said.

In December 2018, Italy adopted a new, restrictive “immigration and security” law. As a result, many migrants have been left in an irregular situation which marginalises them and increases their vulnerability to sexual and work exploitation.

One of the UN experts, Urmila Bhoola, visited Italy in October 2018 to assess the situation of migrants facing work exploitation in local agriculture. She saw for herself the San Ferdinando informal settlement as well as the newer tent city next to it, and will present the findings of her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2019.

The UN experts remain available to advise on how best to protect the rights of migrant workers in Italy.

ENDS

(*)The UN experts: Ms Urmila Bhoola (South Africa), Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, Ms Leilani Farha (Canada), Special Rapporteur on adequate housing and Mr. Felipe Gonzalez Morales (Chile), Special Rapporteur on the rights of migrants.

Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page – Italy

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For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
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