The United Nations International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (UN Mechanism) has issued a warning against racial discrimination present within Italian law enforcement structures. This warning follows a comprehensive mission consisting of visits to Rome, Milan, Catania, and Naples where the Mechanism had the chance to assess the correlation of race and law enforcement practices. Details on the warning were provided in a recent press release.
During its mission, the UN Mechanism encountered testimonies of racial profiling within Italy’s law enforcement agencies. Chairperson Akua Kuenyehia voiced her concerns about the damaging and unfounded correlations being made between the Black community and criminal activity. She went on to highlight that the essential task of promoting citizen safety and security shouldn’t act as a free pass to engage in racial profiling. Such practices, Kuenyehia emphasized, erode public trust in law enforcement and diminish their overall effectiveness.
The UN Mechanism also found a significant lack of comprehensive race-based data, which indicated a substantial roadblock in addressing racial disparities.Along with this, overcrowding in Italian prisons and the ensuing human rights implications for detainees were flagged. Particularly, the system-wide racism and instances of torture and ill-treatment became evident, which included a specific case at the Cesare Beccaria Juvenile Detention Centre located in Milan.
Skirting around the penumbra of law enforcement, the UN body also examined the challenges faced by migrants and asylum seekers in accessing legal protections. The Mechanism identified abuse of authority and bureaucratic delays within law enforcement as critical factors exacerbating these difficulties. It emphasized that immigration services should be under civilian control and positioned either within or in close proximity to affected communities.
The UN Mechanism concluded its mission by sharing these preliminary findings with the Italian Government and is expected to draft and present a full report to the UN Human Rights Council during its 57th session in the fall.
The UN Mechanism, established in the year 2021, seeks to challenge and address systemic racism and human rights violations against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement. Its mandate allows for investigating international human rights law violations and government reactions to peaceful anti-racism protests, contributing to accountability and redress for victims. The Mechanism is led by a group of international experts including Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, Dr. Tracie Keesee, and Professor Juan Méndez. Justice Mokgoro served as chairperson until his resignation in March 2024.
For more comprehensive information on the Mechanism’s warning and Italy’s law enforcement practices, visit here.