COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD EXAMINES ITALY'S REPORT
Press Release
HR/4201
COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD EXAMINES ITALY'S REPORT
19951107 GENEVA, 31 October (UN Information Service) -- Italy attached special interest and the utmost importance to all problems related to the status and welfare of children, in spite of some deplorable facts occurring from time to time, the Committee on the Rights of the Child was assured this morning, as it took up the report of Italy. The report focused on how that State party was complying with the provisions of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.Paolo Torella di Romagnano, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the Italian delegation, said that the special importance that Italy attached to problems concerning children was further demonstrated by the decision of the national Parliament to designate two members of the Special Committee on Children of the Chamber of Deputies to attend the meeting as observers.
The condition of juveniles in Italy -- as in most other European countries -- resulted in an ever larger number of adolescents living in a state of confusion and disorder and with a pronounced tendency of passing from the acceptance of sacrifices to the perspective of easy earnings by means of illicit activities, said Mr. Torella di Romagnano.
The Italian delegation also included: Luigi Citarella, Secretary-General of the International Committee for Human Rights; Vanna Palumbo, Ministry of Interior; Anna Passannanti, Ministry of Justice; Antonio Caracciolo, Ministry of Labour and Social Security; Paolo Onelli, Presidency of the Council of Ministers; and Roberto Toscano and Carla Zuppetti, of the Permanent Mission of Italy, Geneva.
When the Committee meets again at 3 p.m. this afternoon, it will continue to examine the report of Italy.
Introduction of Report
PAOLO TORELLA DI ROMAGNANO, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, introducing the report, said that among the more important innovations was the new law of 9 September 1994. It provided for heavier penalties which might be inflicted upon parents or other people having authority over children who allowed their being introduced to illegal work. Another legislative measure attributed competence for granting authorization for the employment of minors
in the preparation and representation of theatrical pieces and shows with the written consent of parents or a legal guardian.
Concerning the evolution of the population, he said that the present demographic dynamics were characterized by a sharp downturn in fertility and the lengthening of the average duration of life. The combination of those two phenomena had given rise to an appreciable decrease of the population aged 18 or less, accompanied by much greater incidence of older people. Significant data concerning the cause of death of young people aged 18 or under showed that 11.2 per cent of those deaths were due to road accidents.
Italy was the country with the lowest birth rate in the world, 9.6 per thousand inhabitants. Infantile mortality was also high in some regions of Italy, he added. However, he noted, the demographic downturn had undoubtedly produced positive effects as far as schooling and health care were concerned. School classes were actually less crowded, which provided for qualitative improvement of teaching. Likewise the demographic quotients constituted valid indicators of the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the population and the level of health services.
The crisis of the juvenile condition resulted in an ever larger number of adolescents living in a state of confusion and disorder and with a pronounced tendency of passing from the acceptance of sacrifices to the perspective of easy earnings by means of illicit activities, he said. The predominant field of action of juvenile crime remained crimes against property -- especially theft -- that very often involved young gypsies and immigrants from outside the European Union.
The high number of wilful homicides was the expression of a higher degree of aggressiveness on the part of minors, reflected also in the episodes of group violence, including rape and sexual violence, he said. The greatest concern was currently aroused by the involvement of minors in crimes characterized by a particularly active presence of organized crime of the Mafia type. Italy attached the utmost interest to problems related to the status and welfare of children, in spite of some deplorable facts occurring from time to time, as in many other countries.
PAOLO ONELLI, of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Italy, recognized that there was still lack of an adequate State structure devoted to children and social affairs. The National Observatory for the Problems of Minors was a newly created organ which followed the conditions of children in general. The National Centre for the protection of children was also attached to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and public intervention in social affairs was envisaged through the enaction of a law.
LUIGI CITARELLA, Secretary-General of the International Committee for Human Rights, responding to additional questions by members of the Committee, said that although Italy did not dispose of a children's ombudsman, a blue telephone line, financed by the State but independent, played the role of ombudsman.
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