DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ITALY DISCUSSED BY COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD
Press Release
HR/4203
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ITALY DISCUSSED BY COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD
19951107 GENEVA, 1 November (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning examined domestic violence perpetrated against children, as it continued its dialogue with the delegation of Italy. Placing children in specialized institutions and the assistance facilities provided to such child victims were also the focus of discussion, as were cases of sexual abuse of adolescents, child labour, child prostitution, foreign child asylum seekers and sexual tourism. The Committee was considering the initial report by Italy on fulfilment of its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.Consideration of Report
PAOLO ONELLI (Italy), responding to additional questions by members of the Committee, recalled that in his country there were 30,000 children under the care of specialized and educational institutions. In most cases, those institutions had allowed children to have affective and educative relations with adults. Although problems still existed in southern Italy, much was being done there, as was being done in other regions.
In general, the backwardness of certain structures of society and that of the institutions did not permit the system of institutions to develop, he said. However, tutors, social workers and volunteers had exerted greater efforts in advancing the cause of children. Institutionalization was not always the sign of an unfortunate choice of the non-socialization of the child. To the contrary, in a certain number of cases it was the beginning of a plan that could be accomplished in the reintegration of the child with the natural parents. Regional institutions and municipalities were also making a great effort to provide training for families who opted to host children.
The delegation further said that the hosting of the child in a family could be prolonged without its being the act of adoption. Italian legislation on adoption was not based on the "consensus" of the natural parents of the child, rather on the judges and social assistants. Unaccompanied foreign children, as well as foreign children in a state of abandonment or devoid of adequate protection, were subject to the same regulations which applied to Italian children. So far, Italy had not ratified The Hague Convention on adoption, but the necessary preparation was under way for its adoption.
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LUIGI CITARELLA (Italy) said that special instructions were given to the police and social service workers to deal with domestic violence. The necessary assistance was also rendered to children who had been subjected to parental violence by placing them in specialized institutions. Parents who were not deprived of their parental authority could continue to have relations with the child. In addition, there was draft legislation to provide minimum standards in hosting children in all Italian institutions, northern or southern.
With regard to the school system, he said that Italian schools were divided into public and private. In all cases, the Government had the duty to inspect the educational system and the disciplinary plans of the schools concerning the students. As to the dissemination of the principles of the Convention, there was a plan of action aimed at training and educating officials and other civil servants to that effect. Already, there was a post-graduate programme related to international conventions of all kinds.
To questions posed by members of the Committee on the sexual abuse of children, child pornography and prostitution, child labour and conditions of children of asylum seekers, sexual tourism and black marketing involving children, the delegation said that there was a need in Italy to limit the working age and the extent of child exploitation. The age limit for sexual relations was 14. A substantial number of foreign children were now entering each year. In 1994 alone, 30,000 unaccompanied children had made their way into Italy and recognition of refugee status was accorded within the general framework of United Nations Conventions. Exploitation of minors as prostitutes was a great concern of the Italian Government. Foreign minors were brought in to Italy to serve as prostitutes in a slave-like manner.
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