Italy
Legal framework. The Italian Constitution (1948) devotes a few paragraphs to the notion of sex (“gender” was not in use at the time), women and foreigners, in terms of equal rights and social dignity for all.
Until the 1980s, the prevailing legislative and political approach to migration was the one seeing Italy as a land of emigrants. The evolution of Italian immigration laws has started in the mid-1980s:
§ the Law 943/1986 was the first act dealing with recruitment and treatment of non-EU immigrant workers, and fight against illegal immigration;
§ the Martelli Law, 39/1990, brought in provisions on political asylum, entry and stay of non-EU nationals and stateless persons;
§ Turco-Napolitano Law, 40/1998;
§ Bossi-Fini Law, 189/2002;
§ following years (2008, 2009, 2018-2019) were marked by increasingly restrictive decree laws, known as Security Packages or Security Sets, on immigration and public safety;
§ the latter were partly modified by the Law 173/2020 on immigration and international protection, and the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (2021).
§
A certain gender perspective in migration management is identifiable in the Law 189/2002, though in terms of labour, namely: migrant women were associated to particular fields of occupation, hence regulated as domestic workers and caregivers, often being female.
Integration policies. In Italy, immigration and asylum are dealt with by the Ministry of the Interior, meaning that no specific Ministry to be dedicated to these phenomena exists. The Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration, within the Ministry, covers functions and duties pertaining to the protection of civil rights relating to immigration, asylum, citizenship, minorities, and religious groups. Among other operational divisions, the Department hosts: Central directorate for migration policies, including the Authority for Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (National AMIF Programme, 2014-2020), and National Commission for the right to asylum.
Perceptions. As from the enactment of the first immigration act in Italy, the phenomenon has been primarily and increasingly approached in terms of labour and public safety, which is evident both in laws and policies. Reflected in public opinion, similar approaches, perceptions and opinions, identifying them in terms of labour and security, fear and emergency, often surround immigration, i.e. migrants themselves.
The whole situation has brought about creating a decentralised system of social inclusion services for migrants. A large part of services and initiatives, including collaborative projects, assistance programmes and sociocultural activities involving migrant women and men, are developed at various territorial levels (esp. local/regional), distributed through territorial networks and implemented by the third sector.
“Achievement is a Balance between Luck and Sacrifice” https://viw.pixel-online.org/case_view.php?id=NDM=: this is a story about a highly skilled woman who, accordingly, has no problems with social nor labour inclusion: we selected this story to show how, event in such a favourable condition, an ex-EU national may face long bureaucratic procedures, difficulties in gathering necessary documentation, and recognising her professional qualifications.
References
Freedman J., 2016, Engendering Security at the Borders of Europe: Women Migrants and the Mediterranean ‘Crisis’, Journal of Refugee Studies 29(4), pp. 568-582.
(https://academic.oup.com/jrs/article/29/4/568/2453266)
The dangers facing migrants attempting to reach the EU by boat have been highlighted in many reports and media articles. However, although more and more women are among those trying to reach Europe, little attention has so far been paid to the gendered nature of the insecurities facing these migrants.
Amicolo R., 2018, Tra garanzie e lacune. La dimensione di genere nella gestione dei richiedenti asilo in Italia, DEP – Deportate, esuli, profughe 36, pp. 128-146.
(https://www.unive.it/pag/fileadmin/user_upload/dipartimenti/DSLCC/documenti/DEP/numeri/n36/11_Amicolo.pdf)
The article sets out to underline the distance between the formal defence and the substantial protection of refugees who are victims of gender violence. On the one hand, it underlines the gaps and the deficiencies of the governing law; on the other, it brings the possible and concrete solutions into focus.
Giorgi A., Vitale T., 2017, Migrants in the public discourse: Between media, policy and public opinion, in S. Marino, J. Roosblad, R. Penninx (ed.), Trade Unions and Migrant Workers, chapter 4, Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 66-89.
(https://www.academia.edu/29459986/MIGRANTS_IN_THE_PUBLIC_DISCOURSE_BETWEEN_MEDIA_POLICIES_AND_PUBLIC_OPINION)
In this chapter, the authors especially look at the overall political climate, political parties’ agendas and alignments, and master frames and major dynamics of public opinion.
Aida, Ecre & Asgi, Overview of the Legal Framework, Italy [Last updated: 03/06/21]. (https://asylumineurope.org/reports/country/italy/overview-legal-framework/)
This site brings main legislative acts relevant to asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention and content of protection in Italy.
Camera dei deputati, Servizio Studi, XVIII Legislatura: Immigrazione, 18 marzo 2021. (https://www.camera.it/temiap/documentazione/temi/pdf/1105627.pdf?_1557674616893)
This document brings a thorough analysis of Italian immigration laws and regulatory acts.
Immigration policies in Italy, in: Struggles in Italy
(https://strugglesinitaly.wordpress.com/equality/en-immigration-policies-in-italy/)
This online paper analyses immigration policies and legal framework in Italy up to more recent developments in the field.