Indicator history

Italy gave its residents full protection against discrimination following threats from the European Commission to take legal action. In order to tackle existing discrimination and continuously improve the law, the government responded to the points set out in the infringement proceeding 2005/2358 by implementing the Anti-Discrimination Law on 6 June 2008. Now more victims are protected from harassment and victimisation, while they do not have to shoulder the whole burden of proof throughout the legal proceedings.
The State did create a diversity charter for business, similar to FR and DE, but has no positive duty to promote equality in its own actions. The Prime Minister controls the Office for Racial Discrimination, Europe’s 2nd weakest equality body (after ES). It cannot instigate or engage in proceedings, unlike in 13 countries.
The main positive development at a national level in the field of anti-discrimination is that UNAR (the Italian National Office for the Promotion of Equality of Treatment and the Contrast to Discrimination based on Race and Ethnic Origin) has made greater efforts to increase its capacity and extend its activities to combat discrimination. For instance an information system for the contact centre has been created and data on the cases of discrimination reported to the office during the year will be more accurate and comprehensive than those currently available.

Source: ENAR, Shadow Report 2009 – 2010. Racism and discrimination in Italy
Migrant Integration Policy INdex III, http://www.mipex.eu/italy