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28 April 2000
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CESCR
22nd Session
28 April 2000
Afternoon
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon concluded its review of the third periodic report of Italy on how that country was complying with the terms of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Committee will issue its formal written observations and recommendations on the Italian report towards the end of its three-week session, which concludes on 12 May.
Luigi Citarella, Chairman of Italy's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights, spoke about a variety of topics, including the Government's attempts to help the homeless in Italy, special protective legislation for homosexuals, and attempts to lower the rate of traffic accidents.
The Government, he said, had undertaken a 200 million Lira study on the homeless, and had appropriated about 30 billion Lira in the national budget this year for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local municipalities and other organizations to help the homeless.
Asked by Committee experts about the country's efforts to provide protection for homosexuals, the delegation said there were few special protections, although in some cases homosexuals were allowed to share benefits.
And after noting that the country had a high rate of traffic accidents, which were frequently fatal, Mr. Citarella said the Government did not know exactly how to address the problem. Information and campaigns were widespread, he said. There were considerations to close discos and other places where young people gathered at 2 a.m. instead of 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.
Committee experts also offered questions about, among other things, combating domestic violence, reproductive health rights and efforts to curb smoking.
Italy, as one of the 143 States parties to the International Covenant, must submit periodic reports to the Committee on how it was implementing the provisions of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Monday, 1 May, it will begin its consideration of the third periodic report of Portugal.
Discussion
LUIGI CITARELLA, Chairman of Italy's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights, answering a question about the homeless in his country, said the Government had appropriated 200 million Lira to conduct an intensive study on the homeless. The Government had earmarked about 30 billion Lira in the budget for this year for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local municipalities and other organizations to help the homeless.
Answering a question about children disappearing in Italy, Mr. Citarella said there was no more than 15 or 20 cases of children who had disappeared. Even though that was a small number given the entire population, it had been hoped that the number could be lower.
On a question about the protection of homosexuals, Mr. Citarella said there were few special protections. But in some cases, homosexuals were allowed to share benefits. There was no special legislation allowing for marriage, or for the adoption of a child.
Questioned about social welfare, he said the cluster of families that lived on the lowest incomes were mainly in the south. Often they had many children. The State had always offered benefits to poor families. Every month there was a family allowance sum for each member, and there was a special supplement for a family if there were more than three children and the income was lower than a certain level. There were also tax deductions for families with minors at home and an unemployed parent.
Another member of the delegation said Italy was aware of the problem of having children taken away from their families by criminal organizations. Since last year, Italy had taken a leading role in working on a United Nations convention against organized crime. The Government had been working on two optional protocols.
Asked about Italian efforts to combat domestic violence, the delegation said this was one of the central issues concerning the protection of the human rights of women and families. On 9 February of this year, a commission in Italy had endorsed special legislation that defined specific crimes committed against women, and called for appropriate penalties, ranging from fines to imprisonment. There were other initiatives by the Government. Violence or sexual abuse against women in the workplace was already addressed in a special law.
Questioned about women's reproductive health rights, the delegation said there was a law in Italy that legalized abortion. Women were guaranteed complete confidentiality and could go freely to any doctor or hospital for questions about their reproductive health without any family members learning about it. There was a large campaign through the mass media on contraception, but there was no specific law about contraception.
The delegation said that for a very long period of time, health expenditure in Italy had been high due to the abuse of the health system. Prescriptions were free, access to the system was free, and most people were trying to get as much medicine as possible. Today, there was a limit on how much people could get. A certain level had been set up where a family that earned more than 70 million Lira had to pay for some services. If the family was under that level, then they did not have to pay anything. This all applied to public clinics. If people opted for private clinics, they had to pay. A recent judgement of the European Court said that an EU citizen could go anywhere in the EU and be able to get the same level of coverage as his or her home country.
Asked for further details, the delegation said that anyone in Italy needing medical attention could not be turned down.
The delegation said that in Italy, the old-styled psychiatric institutions had been abolished forever. Anyone needing treatment would need only go to a hospital, and receive the same treatment in a much less discriminatory setting.
Regarding the problem of smoking, the delegation said, there was no overall law that prevented or deterred smoking everywhere. It was somewhat different in that respect from the United States. There were some restrictions -- you could not smoke in public places or public buildings, or in closed environments like a cinema or theater. The sale of tobacco must come with a note warning about the dangers of smoking and that it could cause cancer. The media had carried public campaigns against tobacco use. And advertising of all forms of tobacco was totally prohibited.
Asked about mad cow disease, the delegation said there were repercussions about this in Italy. The Government had refused to accept imported meat from certain countries, especially the United Kingdom. There was also a ban on certain foods for animal consumption.
Answering a question about traffic accidents in Italy, the delegation said their number was very high, particularly on weekends, Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. This was a major problem. The people involved in such accidents, which could be fatal, were often young people. The Government did not know exactly how to address the problem. Information and campaigns were widespread. Everyday on television, there was information broadcast about the dangers. There had been talk about time limits for closure of discos or other places where young people gathered. There was talk about closing these places at 2 a.m. instead of 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.
Questioned about the spread of HIV/AIDS, the delegation said the vast majority of incidents were among drug users. It was not frequently the consequence of sexual activity.
On education, the delegation said one of the problems facing Italian schools was the decrease of the number of students in different types of schools. It was obvious in some little towns or villages. Whenever the number of students dropped below a certain level, it was impossible to keep those schools alive. It had just happened in two or three villages in Italy -- primary schools were in danger of closing.
Regarding a question on the relationship between public and private schools, the delegation said an agreement had been reached on a law governing certain aspects of teaching in private schools, and that included rules that guaranteed parity between the two systems. In 1998, there were grants that were provided to private nursery schools that did a public service. About 10 per cent of students were in private schools, and the remaining 90 per cent were in public schools, at all levels of education.
The delegation said there was no corporal punishment in Italian schools. It was abolished as far back as the beginning of the last century. If there were charges, they would be taken seriously. This was considered a serious crime.
The delegation also said there were no fees that had to be paid for admission to a public school. The only cost borne by the family was the cost of books. The Italian Government, however, took steps to prevent excessive increases in the cost of books. For university fees, those costs were deductible for children up to the age of 26.
Responding to a question about foreigners and older people enrolling in schools, the delegation said some schools had added special classes for such groups. There were also four universities especially for older people.
* *** *
22nd Session
28 April 2000
Afternoon
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon concluded its review of the third periodic report of Italy on how that country was complying with the terms of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Committee will issue its formal written observations and recommendations on the Italian report towards the end of its three-week session, which concludes on 12 May.
Luigi Citarella, Chairman of Italy's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights, spoke about a variety of topics, including the Government's attempts to help the homeless in Italy, special protective legislation for homosexuals, and attempts to lower the rate of traffic accidents.
The Government, he said, had undertaken a 200 million Lira study on the homeless, and had appropriated about 30 billion Lira in the national budget this year for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local municipalities and other organizations to help the homeless.
Asked by Committee experts about the country's efforts to provide protection for homosexuals, the delegation said there were few special protections, although in some cases homosexuals were allowed to share benefits.
And after noting that the country had a high rate of traffic accidents, which were frequently fatal, Mr. Citarella said the Government did not know exactly how to address the problem. Information and campaigns were widespread, he said. There were considerations to close discos and other places where young people gathered at 2 a.m. instead of 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.
Committee experts also offered questions about, among other things, combating domestic violence, reproductive health rights and efforts to curb smoking.
Italy, as one of the 143 States parties to the International Covenant, must submit periodic reports to the Committee on how it was implementing the provisions of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Monday, 1 May, it will begin its consideration of the third periodic report of Portugal.
Discussion
LUIGI CITARELLA, Chairman of Italy's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights, answering a question about the homeless in his country, said the Government had appropriated 200 million Lira to conduct an intensive study on the homeless. The Government had earmarked about 30 billion Lira in the budget for this year for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local municipalities and other organizations to help the homeless.
Answering a question about children disappearing in Italy, Mr. Citarella said there was no more than 15 or 20 cases of children who had disappeared. Even though that was a small number given the entire population, it had been hoped that the number could be lower.
On a question about the protection of homosexuals, Mr. Citarella said there were few special protections. But in some cases, homosexuals were allowed to share benefits. There was no special legislation allowing for marriage, or for the adoption of a child.
Questioned about social welfare, he said the cluster of families that lived on the lowest incomes were mainly in the south. Often they had many children. The State had always offered benefits to poor families. Every month there was a family allowance sum for each member, and there was a special supplement for a family if there were more than three children and the income was lower than a certain level. There were also tax deductions for families with minors at home and an unemployed parent.
Another member of the delegation said Italy was aware of the problem of having children taken away from their families by criminal organizations. Since last year, Italy had taken a leading role in working on a United Nations convention against organized crime. The Government had been working on two optional protocols.
Asked about Italian efforts to combat domestic violence, the delegation said this was one of the central issues concerning the protection of the human rights of women and families. On 9 February of this year, a commission in Italy had endorsed special legislation that defined specific crimes committed against women, and called for appropriate penalties, ranging from fines to imprisonment. There were other initiatives by the Government. Violence or sexual abuse against women in the workplace was already addressed in a special law.
Questioned about women's reproductive health rights, the delegation said there was a law in Italy that legalized abortion. Women were guaranteed complete confidentiality and could go freely to any doctor or hospital for questions about their reproductive health without any family members learning about it. There was a large campaign through the mass media on contraception, but there was no specific law about contraception.
The delegation said that for a very long period of time, health expenditure in Italy had been high due to the abuse of the health system. Prescriptions were free, access to the system was free, and most people were trying to get as much medicine as possible. Today, there was a limit on how much people could get. A certain level had been set up where a family that earned more than 70 million Lira had to pay for some services. If the family was under that level, then they did not have to pay anything. This all applied to public clinics. If people opted for private clinics, they had to pay. A recent judgement of the European Court said that an EU citizen could go anywhere in the EU and be able to get the same level of coverage as his or her home country.
Asked for further details, the delegation said that anyone in Italy needing medical attention could not be turned down.
The delegation said that in Italy, the old-styled psychiatric institutions had been abolished forever. Anyone needing treatment would need only go to a hospital, and receive the same treatment in a much less discriminatory setting.
Regarding the problem of smoking, the delegation said, there was no overall law that prevented or deterred smoking everywhere. It was somewhat different in that respect from the United States. There were some restrictions -- you could not smoke in public places or public buildings, or in closed environments like a cinema or theater. The sale of tobacco must come with a note warning about the dangers of smoking and that it could cause cancer. The media had carried public campaigns against tobacco use. And advertising of all forms of tobacco was totally prohibited.
Asked about mad cow disease, the delegation said there were repercussions about this in Italy. The Government had refused to accept imported meat from certain countries, especially the United Kingdom. There was also a ban on certain foods for animal consumption.
Answering a question about traffic accidents in Italy, the delegation said their number was very high, particularly on weekends, Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. This was a major problem. The people involved in such accidents, which could be fatal, were often young people. The Government did not know exactly how to address the problem. Information and campaigns were widespread. Everyday on television, there was information broadcast about the dangers. There had been talk about time limits for closure of discos or other places where young people gathered. There was talk about closing these places at 2 a.m. instead of 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.
Questioned about the spread of HIV/AIDS, the delegation said the vast majority of incidents were among drug users. It was not frequently the consequence of sexual activity.
On education, the delegation said one of the problems facing Italian schools was the decrease of the number of students in different types of schools. It was obvious in some little towns or villages. Whenever the number of students dropped below a certain level, it was impossible to keep those schools alive. It had just happened in two or three villages in Italy -- primary schools were in danger of closing.
Regarding a question on the relationship between public and private schools, the delegation said an agreement had been reached on a law governing certain aspects of teaching in private schools, and that included rules that guaranteed parity between the two systems. In 1998, there were grants that were provided to private nursery schools that did a public service. About 10 per cent of students were in private schools, and the remaining 90 per cent were in public schools, at all levels of education.
The delegation said there was no corporal punishment in Italian schools. It was abolished as far back as the beginning of the last century. If there were charges, they would be taken seriously. This was considered a serious crime.
The delegation also said there were no fees that had to be paid for admission to a public school. The only cost borne by the family was the cost of books. The Italian Government, however, took steps to prevent excessive increases in the cost of books. For university fees, those costs were deductible for children up to the age of 26.
Responding to a question about foreigners and older people enrolling in schools, the delegation said some schools had added special classes for such groups. There were also four universities especially for older people.
* *** *