U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

As delivered by Anna Palladino

The United States welcomes the Italian delegation to the UPR Working Group.

We recommend that Italy:

1. Intensify efforts to effectively screen for labor trafficking victims through increased inspections and improved training of labor inspectors and refer victims for services, particularly in the agriculture and service sectors.
2. Seek humane alternatives to forceful evictions of members of Roma, Sinti, and the nomadic Caminanti communities from unauthorized camps and prevent local authorities from mistreating members of these groups.
3. Better sensitize and educate law enforcement and judicial authorities about domestic abuse and ensure that victims have access to courts in order to obtain restraining orders against abusive partners, as well as expand victim services to mothers and migrant women who are particularly vulnerable.

We welcome the recent law to more effectively prosecute domestic violence cases and encourage further steps be taken.  In addition, we are concerned by the level of hate crimes, economic exploitation, and incendiary statements, targeting minority communities.