Milan, April 4, 2024 — The new report by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) sheds light on the serious violations of basic rights that asylum seekers are facing in major Italian cities while trying to apply for international protection. Across Italy, individuals seeking asylum face prolonged waits while Immigration Offices handle their applications, or are turned away by the Police Stations, who tell them to "wait, please."
The report comes out exactly a year after the Police Headquarters and the Prefecture of Milan adopted a new online system to access the procedure for the recognition of international protection. While the digital solution was designed to alleviate barriers to accessing the asylum procedure, in practice, discriminatory practices persist.
Stuck in an asylum vacuum, people are left without proper documentation, means of living and accommodation, a limbo that can last for several months. This waiting period puts people in a vulnerable and uncertain position, highlighting the pressing need for more efficient and compassionate processing procedures to ensure timely registration and support. The sheer volume of asylum applications—13,000 filed in January 2024 alone - underscores the pressing need to act.
Susanna Zanfrini, IRC's Italy Country Director, said:
"Widespread delays or obstacles in submitting applications for international protection that we have documented across Italy represent a serious violation of fundamental rights. We argue that access to asylum remains significantly restricted, if not entirely blocked, in various parts of Italy, as the Italian government's focus leans heavily on preventing arrivals in Europe rather than bolstering the reception system.
“It's time to shift from walls to welcome. Offering dignified reception and ongoing support to those seeking refuge, regardless of their country of origin or the journey they have undertaken, is a backbone of fair and humane treatment for all."
Flaminia Delle Cese, IRC’s Legal and Advocacy Advisor in Italy, added:
"Giving people fleeing conflict, persecution, and disaster the chance to apply for international protection with dignity is not only a legal obligation but also an act of humanity. The Italian state must urgently resolve obstacles to the submission of requests for international protection and establish minimum standards so that people are properly taken care of while their claims are being assessed."
IRC IN ITALY
Present in the country since 2017, the IRC currently has 40 staff in Italy. Since January 2022 IRC Italy reached 270.526 clients responding to the needs of people seeking protection through providing direct support to clients, working with local organizations, national authorities and institutions to improve the asylum system and humanitarian conditions. Actions cover the impacted regions of Lombardy, Sicily, Lazio, Piedmont and Friuli Venezia Giulia aiming to enhance refugees’ safety, power, education, economic empowerment and mental health – with a focus on the most vulnerable, including women and unaccompanied children (UAC).