Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Official dialogue has opened between Italy and the United Nations’ Organisation with regard to setting up an independent institution to watch respect for human rights in Italy. An international workshop organised by the Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, in collaboration with the UN High Commission for Human Rights was held in Rome. The seminar registered direct dialogue between the delegation of the United Nations and an ample representation of Italian institutions.
This dialogue marks an important step forward to creating in Italy a national institution for human rights, thanks to efforts on the part of the civil society. Italy is 13 years late compared to what was established by UN resolution 48/134 del 20/12/93 which said every member state should have an independent national institution.
The Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights represents 50 Italian human rights NGOs and associations, NGOs such as Agesci, Cipsi, Pax Christi, Fondazione Di Liegro, Centro Astalli, and Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS), connected with the Salesians. According to Committee spokesperson Carla Carazzone, also head of the VIS Human Rights Office, “Italy has the responsibility to improve and intensify promotion and protection of these rights”, and must “face the question immediately setting up a truly independent institution, free of any subjection to contiguity with politics”.
It emerged from the workshop the necessity to avoid the proliferation of guarantors in various sectors, but rather to group all democratic competences in one observatory. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/12/2006 righe 24 parole 249)
