Constitutional, legislative and institutional framework

Question 1

1.In August 2011, CIDU posted the Italian translation of the CEDAW Concluding Observations (CO/6), dated July 26, 2011, online. In early September 2011, it convened an ad hoc meeting, to share the above translation with CSOs. On that occasion, agreement was reached among all Administrations to jointly translate and publish all relevant CEDAW material, online. An ad hoc Task Force, led by the Ministry of Justice, was established; and the material was made available in December 2011. CIDU informed and reported to the Parliament about that.

2.Over the last years, Superior School for Judiciary has been dedicating specific refresher courses to GBV, which include CEDAW and relevant obligations (In 2015, the course focused on household-related crimes; in 2016, training focused on VAW and children; the 2017 course will focus on VAW).

3.In 2014, the former Higher Institute of Penitentiary Studies signed an MoU with Latium Psychologists Association for a research on the perpetrators of domestic violence. In 2016, DPA’s DG for Training (Ministry of Justice) took the ownership of the research, to evaluate the social dangerousness and to develop reintegration’s modalities of violent persons. The relevant project includes: Training; Collection of information on perpetrators; Meeting with perpetrators; Treatment programs to reduce recidivism; Experimentation of a psychological group process; Intervention and verification. Currently, an experimental research is ongoing in some prisons and probation offices: CR Spoleto, CC Terni, CC Frosinone, CC Roma Rebibbia, CC Chieti, CC Teramo, and probation offices of Frosinone, Roma, Pescara and Spoleto. 70 people are involved. In some prisons, interviews for psychological and psycho-diagnostics assessment have been completed. Besides, the above DG envisages for the 2017 Training Planning, both the extension of the project and supervision of penitentiary workers concerned.

Question 2

4.As a way of example with regard to the relevant judicial practice, please find attached herewith a relevant MoU signed by Tivoli Attorney General Office with other key stakeholders, to ensure an integrated protection system for victims (Annex 1).

5.As for Equal Opportunities Councillors, by recalling information in periodic Reports VI and VII, the Councillor for Equal Opportunities performs its duties, in accordance with Articles 12-20 of Legislative Decree 198/2006, as amended. The tasks are to detect and consider cases of gender-based discrimination at work-place, throughout labour life. With locus standi, Equality Councillors work together with labour inspectors at all levels of local administrations (The labour inspections service has been recently reformed, following Legislative Decree 149/2015). The network of Equality Councillors covers the whole Italian territory.

6.As for cases of discrimination examined by Equality Councillors, data emerges from their annual reports pursuant to Art.15, para.6, of Legislative Decree 198/2006. As for gender-related discrimination, 2,471 cases have been reported to the National Equality Councillor in 2015, 2,051 of which (=83%) in the North, 186 (=7.5%) in the Centre, and 234 (=9.5%) in the South. As for 2016, cases were 1,585, of which 1071 (=67.9%) in the North, 108 (=6,9%) in the Centre, and 400 (=25.2%) in the south of Italy.

National machinery for the advancement of women

Question 3

7.National budget allocated to the national machinery for the advancement of women (Department for Equal Opportunities of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers — DEO-PCM) was equal to over 32 million Euros for 2014-2015 and about 47 million Euros, for 2015-2016. For the period 2016-2017, the allocated budget was doubled thus reaching 91 million Euros.

8.As for gender mainstreaming policies implemented through the European Social Fund in the reference period, DEO is currently carrying out the project named “Flexible working arrangements for the future of Public Administrations — Innovative practices on work-life balance”. The project envisages the implementation of actions aimed at facilitating reconciliation between work and family life for Public Administration staff and the carrying out of pilot projects for the experimentation of smart working actions in central, regional and local public administrations.

9.Under European Regional Development Fund, DEO has developed technical assistance actions aimed at supporting the Convergence Regions (Calabria, Campania, Apulia and Sicily) in the implementation of the gender equality and non‑discrimination principles, within the regional programming. The aim is to build a gender equality governance system and consolidate skills on equality mainstreaming, work-life balance, and women’s participation in decision-making at a regional level.

10.In 2016, Legislative Decree 90/2016 amended Law 196/2009 on public accounting and finance by introducing in Art.38-septies, the experimental adoption of gender budgeting for the impact assessment of budget policies on women and men in terms of money, services, unpaid time and work. The measure was aimed at evaluating the different effects of budget policies on women and men, respectively.

11.State gender budget will be formulated in relation to the annual budget report, so that the current year will be reported under the 2016 report. To this end, Administrations are working to define the spending items to be included by reclassifying them according to the objective to be reached.

12.Funding — directly allocated to local Authorities — for Equality Councillors falls within Art.17 of Legislative Decree 198/2006, while resources for National Equality Councillor fall within the following Art.18.

13.OnAugust 3, 2016, thanks to Minister for Family Policies, the Government signed an Agreement with Regions and Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano aimed at spreading, nation-wide, “Family Audit”: a “quality label” addressed to companies particularly attentive to work and family life balance.

14. The “Family Audit” certification can be obtained by public and private businesses willing to reorganize themselves by paying special attention to their employees’ family needs. It is issued at the end of a three-year-and-a-half period during which such companies, supported by specialized consultants, introduce new organisational models. Regions adhering to “Family Audit” draft MoUs aimed at identifying local-related implementation methods.

15.Furthermore, Department for Family Policies yearly promotes and finances relevant measures. In 2015 and 2016, it allocated 5 million Euros for implementation of activities aimed at supporting families and parental responsibilities and for the establishment and/or development of Family Centres; and 7.5 million Euros to finance activities foreseen under regional intervention programs, such as Bonus Nido and support for early childhood services.

16.Finally, this Department signed an Agreement with Ministry of Labour, to implement a project for “multi-problem” families, and/or disadvantaged persons or victims of discriminations, on innovative social services, including dissemination and exchange of best practices about tutoring, family and cultural mediation, local Centres for families, abuse and mistreatment within the family, and violence (European Social Fund 2014-2020).

17.As for Independent National Human Rights Institution, an important debate is taking place in Italy at all levels of the system. On this issue, high attention at the Parliamentary level shall be stressed, particularly within the Senate where the Constitutional Affairs Commission is debating the relevant Text.

18.Italy has a long-standing practice of dialogue with CSOs. In this regard, worthy of mention is the last National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, 2016-2019, in accordance with UNSCR1325(2000), which has been drafted with an inter-ministerial, integrated, and fully participatory approach (Annex 2), as well as the Extraordinary Action Plan against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, which was drafted in collaboration with CSOs and whose National Observatory on Violence also includes CSOs’ members (see para.23).

Temporary special measures

Question 4

19.Italy is fully aware of the importance of this issue. The relevant cultural process is on-going, also thanks to the measures mentioned under Questions 10 and 13.

Stereotypes and harmful practices

Question 5

20.In 2017, DEO started CREATIVE (Changing Relationships through Education and Awareness Towards endIng Violence against women) project financed by the European Commission and co-financed by the Department. The project’s main objective is to elaborate, develop, produce and widely disseminate, for the first time in Italy, a comprehensive multi-target educational and awareness campaign on eliminating gender stereotypes and violence against women having a strong impact on the general public and being able, through targeted actions, to reach and increase awareness of the future generations of men and women on the problem. Among the actions envisaged by the project, two specific experimental tools (a board game and a storybook) on gender stereotypes will be tested in 40 pilot kindergartens and primary schools. Depending on the results of the experimentation, such actions could be replicated in the future throughout the national territory under national funds.

21.On 11 November 2016, DEO, in collaboration with MIUR, issued a public Call for proposals for the presentation of school educational initiatives on preventing and combating all forms of GBV and against gender stereotypes addressing all public schools, nation-wide. The Call for proposals also encouraged the establishment of collaborations between schools and NGOs working in this sector. The total allocated amount is equal to 5 million Euros and selected projects started their activities on 1 February 2017.

22.As for group of experts on language and gender, in the reference period it was convened 3 times and started working on the drafting of the Guidelines for the promotion of the correct use of the Italian language from a gender perspective in the Public Administrations and the media, including with reference to legislative and administrative acts. Due to the change of Government, the mandate of the Group has expired but it will soon be renewed in line with Extraordinary Action Plan Against Sexual and Gender-based Violence’s implementation.

23.As for the impact of measures to address stereotypical and sexist attitudes in the media and advertising industry, as underlined in Italy’s VII periodic Report (para.37), DEO signed an MoU with Italian Advertising Self-Regulation Institute (acronym in Italian, IAP) with a view to enhancing cooperation to monitor and remove offensive and indecent ads. In this regard, in 2015, 93 cases were examined. 38% of such ads were removed. In 2016, 68 cases were analysed and 32% of ads were removed. As of March 2017, 8 are the examined cases, 25% of ads were removed. In order to strengthen the abovementioned instrument, IAP also signed a similar MoU with ANCI.

24.MIUR is involved in a specific working group of the National Observatory on Violence against Women, aimed at a strategic plan on gender-based violence. Furthermore, it will set up a WG, jointly with Italian Publisher Association, aimed at considering the use of language, promotion of gender equality in the textbooks and elimination of stereotypical attitudes.

25.Health and physical, mental and social well-being depend on several factors, including gender. The protection and promotion of women’s health represent a key investment to improve overall health. Aware of the essential role of women within the family as key actors for healthy lifestyles (healthy drivers), women themselves must be, first, in healthy conditions. To increase awareness about women’s health in all life periods, with women’s participation the Government established the National Women’s Health Day, on April 22nd of each year (Nobel Prize Rita Levi Montalcini’s birthday).

(a)During the first National Women’s Health Day-2016, Ministry of Health organized an interactive informational project, including online and study-discussions around 10 women health-relevant topics: 1. Sexuality, fertility, and maternal health; 2. Violence, right to health-care, immigrant women; 3. Nutrition throughout lifecycle; 4. Cancers’ Prevention and screening; 5. Mental health, eating disorders, and addiction; 6. Beauty treatments and aesthetic medicine, including plastic surgery; 7. Health at work-place; 8. Gendered medicine and research for women; 9. Healthy ageing for women; 10. Communication targeting women, for themselves and as their families’ health drivers;

(b)Each WG proposed 5 priority participatory actions to be developed over the next three to five years, which resulted in “Manifesto for Women’s Health” as signed by Minister of Health, Ms. Lorenzin (Annex 3).

26.Fertility Day has been established to promote national attention and information about male and female fertility and related health protection, by providing useful tools for prevention, early diagnosis and care-taking of diseases that could affect it. The day does not go into personal choices about becoming parents or not. It has been mostly directed to young people, and to disseminate scientific and health information about male and female reproductive organs, their diseases, treatment and lifestyles that could prevent diseases.

27.Female Genital Mutilation — On www.salute.gov.it, under “Women’s Health”, a relevant database, including all regional services, is available. By Art. 4 of Act 7/2006, Ministry of Health annually supervises funding for Regions, allocated upon criteria by the State-Regions Conference. Furthermore, INMP has launched specific training, role models, and assessment-related projects, by involving, among others, hospitals, across the country.

Violence against women

Question 6 and question 7

28.The Extraordinary Action Plan Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (hereinafter, the Plan), adopted in May 2015, envisages the implementation of the following actions, carried out over the reporting period:

29.On 7 July 2015, the Plan was adopted by DPCM, with the aim of establishing a multi-level governance system of public policies for combating such phenomena and supporting their victims, through a total allocation of 40 million Euros for 4 years. Within this framework, on the International Women’s Day-2016, a 12‑million-Euro Public Call for Proposals for the financing of projects for the strengthening of shelters and assistance services to women victims of violence and their children, as well as for the enhancement of the local services network was launched.

30.Through DPCM of 25 November 2016, the Government has allocated further 18 million Euros for the period 2017-2018 to Regions, to finance the opening of new anti-violence Centres and shelters and the strengthening of the already existing ones.

31.Furthermore, within the framework of the implementation of para.4 of the Plan, through an additional DPCM of 25 November 2016, the Government has allocated further 13 million Euros to be distributed among Regions and Autonomous Provinces for the implementation of projects and actions on: training of health personnel of hospitals’ emergency rooms; promotion of victim’s entry to the labour market; access to public housing for victims; establishment of systems for the collection of data on the phenomenon at the local level.

32.As of April 2017, 501 are the safe shelters (anti-violence Centres + women’s refuges) in Italy.

33.Under the above-mentioned Plan, on 25 July 2016, an Inter-institutional Steering Committee was established. The Committee is chaired by the President of the Ministers’ Council or the political Authority in charge of gender equality and composed by: Minister of Health, Minister of Regional Affairs, Autonomies and Family Policies, as well as by the representatives of the competent Ministries (Interior; Justice; Education; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Economic Development; Defence; Economy and Finance; Labour; Simplification and Public Administration), and of the Regions and local Authorities. The Committee gathered 3 times (8 September 2016, 22 November 2016, and 2 March 2017) to take stock of the Italian Government’s initiatives that are being taken to combat GBV.

34.Furthermore, on 21 November 2016, the first meeting of the National Observatory on Violence was convened in compliance with the above Plan. The second meeting took place on 23 March 2017. Within the Observatory, the following 3 Working Groups have been established:

(a)WG 1 on “Legislation” — aimed at proposing amendments to the legal framework on GBV;

(b)WG 2 on “Protection paths” — aimed at defining Guidelines on new protection paths for victims of GBV;

(c)WG 3 on “Strategic Framework” — aimed at defining the future strategic framework of the next relevant National Action Plan against GBV.

35.In line with the provisions established by the Plan, on 15 November 2016, the structure for the setting up of a specific National Database on gender-based violence was defined and will be implemented through the MoU with ISTAT (see below). It envisages inter alia that ISTAT be the coordinating body of the National Database and the entity mainly responsible for it. In its coordination activity, ISTAT will collaborate with experts from the Entities and Ministries producing administrative data on this topic, including shelters. The National Database will collect data deriving from sample surveys, as well as administrative data and data collected by shelters.

36.From a judicial standpoint, while recalling the VII periodic Report, expulsion measures from home fall within Art.282-b, 342-b cpp; free legal aid is ensured to women victims of violence, regardless of their income; and victims of violent crimes are entitled to compensation and have access to a specific Solidarity Fund in accordance with Arts.7-11 of Law 122/2016.

37.On the occasion of the International Day on the Elimination of Violence against Women-2016, with the aim of developing specific actions supporting the implementation of the Extraordinary Action Plan against Sexual and Gender-based Violence, 5 MoUs were signed by DEO and ISTAT, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group (the national railway company), Poste Italiane (the national post company), Carabinieri Corps and State Police, respectively.

38.In particular, the MoUs signed with Carabinieri and State Police aim at promoting training initiatives for law enforcement agencies’ personnel, DEO’s staff and the 1522 helpline operators, with a view to making the identification and fight against sexual and GBV and stalking more effective.

39.The MoU with ISTAT aims at devising and implementing the abovementioned National Database on GBV, whereas the MoU signed with Poste Italiane and Ferrovie dello Stato aim at officialising the already existing collaboration with the Department on this topic and especially for the dissemination of information on the 1522 toll-free helpline.

40.On the same occasion, DEO presented the new communication campaign against GBV, entitled “Put yourself in her shoes”. The TV advertisement is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgf3BqgqLa0&feature=youtu.be.

41.Last but not least, on 11 November 2016, DEO, in collaboration with MIUR, issued a public Call for proposals for the presentation of school educational initiatives on preventing and combating all forms of GBV addressing all public schools, nationwide. This Call for proposals also encouraged the establishment of collaborations between schools and relevant NGOs, with a total allocation of 5 million Euros; and the selected projects are now starting their activities.

42.Between July-December 2016, State Police carried out “TRAILER Project — The Police Trailer against GBV”, by involving 22 Police HQs. (Questure) in: Agrigento, Arezzo, Bari, Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Cosenza, Crotone, L’Aquila, Macerata, Matera, Palermo, Rimini, Perugia, Pescara, Reggio Calabria, Roma, Sassari, Siracusa, Sondrio, Verbania.

43.The aim is to facilitate the emergence of GBV cases, by providing support by a Team of specialised operators who are aboard of the trailer: physician/psychologist from the Police or Anti-violence Centres; an operator from the investigative Police unit; one from the Anti-crime Division and/or Complaints Office-U.P.G.S.P.; one operator from the local anti-violence Network; possibly, other stakeholders from relevant local Bodies and CSOs; and Investigative Units officers to promptly inform Judicial Authorities for complaints to be filed — and a pro-active approach, to facilitate an immediate contact with users, also in the wider context of correct information to be conveyed.

44.This initiative, jointly with the relevant awareness-raising campaign “This is not love”, and thanks to the proactive role by the Teams from Questure has proven to be very effective: in six months, over 18.600 people have been approached (80% women), with thousands requests for information. In early 2017, this Project has been extended to all 103 Questure for similar events, on the occasion of Saint Valentine’s Day and on the 8th March anniversary.

45.As earlier reported, the 2016 MoU signed with DEO (under current definition the relevant implementation modalities) aims at developing preventive and risk assessment methods, besides implementing training for Police and others, and setting up uniform protected hearing modalities.

46.As for training, refresher and specialisation courses have started in January 2017 and, most likely, will be organized in 2018, for judicial Police (investigative and scientific techniques), State Police (including officers) at Questure (Investigative Units and Digos), regional and inter-regional Cabinets of Scientific Police, and railway and highway patrol units. Within this framework, specific seminars on GBV will be carried out.

47.In line with the comprehensive approach of the Action Plan under reference, also the following legislative measures have been recently adopted: Legislative Decree 80/2015 on “Measures for reconciliation between care, work and family life” which envisages, inter alia, the setting up of a special paid leave for working women victims of violence following duly certified protection programs. Law 124/2015 on the reorganization of Public Administrations, by which the working woman victim of violence is entitled to ask to move to another Public Administration based in a different Municipality from the one of residence. Reform of the national education and training system (Law 107/2015), which provides for, inter alia, the inclusion of education to gender equality, prevention of gender-based violence and discrimination in the school curricula.

48.In this light (Art.1.16 of Law 107), MIUR is working on Guidelines for all educational levels, to improve reflection and studies on gender equality to prevent GBV. The idea is to elaborate a plan of action, by including GBV in teachers’ training curricula. Last March 8, 2017, all schools have been invited to study all topics around GBV and discrimination in accordance with Art.3 of the Italian Constitution. Furthermore, the 8th March date has symbolically marked the beginning of the “STEM month”.

49.As for international cooperation activities envisaged by the Plan, DEO signed two MoUs with Argentina and Paraguay, respectively, in 2015, with the aim of transferring best practices and improving the institutional capacity of the above-mentioned countries on prevention and fight against GBV and on female entrepreneurship.

50.As mentioned in the VII periodic Report, as for migrant women in irregular situations who are victims of violence, Law 119/2013 converting Law-Decree 93/2013 establishing “Urgent provisions on safety and for the fight against GBV, as well as on civil protection and compulsory administration of provinces” provides for that protection is extended to foreign victims, for whom it is introduced the possibility to obtain a humanitarian residence permit, established by Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Unified Text on Immigration) (Annex 4).

51.In line with the above-mentioned Plan, in 2015-2016 Ministry of Health financed a key action, “Training blended for health-care providers and others, to strengthen territorial networks to prevent and fight against GBV”, to disseminate a pathway model for women victims of violence who go to the First Aid. The training addresses physicians and nurses of at least 28 First Aids of 4 Regions (Lombardy, Latium, Campania and Sicily), to enhance ability to managing, diagnosing and treating VAW, besides reinforcing/setting local networks against violence. In parallel, the project “Control and responding to violence against vulnerable people: woman and child, intervention model for hospitals and health care networks in a European perspective. REVAMP”, in partnership with Liguria Region and with the participation of 6 more Regions (Piedmont, Lombardy, Tuscany, Latium, Basilicata and Sicilia) has been financed.

52.In 2016, a DPA-Steering Committee (Ministry of Justice) was established, at a central level, to coordinate all initiatives on the specific treatment of relevant offenders. In early 2017, a specific training on equal opportunities has been held for local and national members of the Equal Opportunities Committee of Penitentiary Police, in strict cooperation with the DPA-DG for Training. Specific attention has been paid to CEDAW, including inter alia gender-based discrimination at work-place, the relevant NAP, regional Observatories and programs for victims’ protections. This course will be further developed with regard to offenders’ treatment. The Committee for Equal Opportunities has proposed to include this program, on a permanent basis, in the annual training Plan of DPA for all staff members, including penitentiary directors, educators, psychologists, social workers, and volunteers.

Trafficking and exploitation of prostitution

Question 8

53.In line with Legislative Decree 24/2014 transposing Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, the first National Action Plan against Trafficking in and Serious Exploitation of Human Beings was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 26 February 2016. The Plan aims at identifying multiannual intervention strategies for the prevention and fight against these phenomena, as well as measures aimed at increasing public awareness, social prevention, emergence and social integration of victims.

54.With a view to enhancing the national response to THB, through prevention, prosecution, protection interventions and actions for the social integration of victims, the National Action Plan — in line with the EU Strategy towards the Eradication of THB (2012-2016) — envisages measures aimed at:

(a)Improving the emergence of the phenomenon and ensuring an effective and coordinated response;

(b)Devising adequate mechanisms for the rapid identification of THB victims through the drafting of specific guidelines;

(c)Establishing a National Referral Mechanism;

(d)Updating the existing reception actions;

(e)Providing multi-agency training;

(f)Adopting specific guidelines on the fulfilment of the obligation to inform victims of 1) their right to stay permit (in compliance with Article 18 of Legislative Decree 286/1998) and to apply for international protection; 2) the opportunity to seek psychological assistance by an Association having proved experience on this topic; 3) legal aid; 4) a protected hearing (in accordance with Art. 498 c.p.p.); 5) the compulsory presence of an expert in psychology or child psychiatry for minors during examination by law enforcement and judicial authorities.

55.Moreover, this Plan establishes the coordination of the international cooperation-related actions, with a view to strengthening and promoting collaboration between Italy and the relevant International Organizations (IOM, ILO, etc.), and between the EU and non-EU countries involved in these phenomena.

56.The implementation of the Plan and the results achieved at the national, regional and local levels will be monitored through a specific System of Monitoring and Verification.

57.As for the resources allocated for implementation, the Plan does not envisage the establishment of a specific dedicated fund. However, about 21 million Euros totally were allocated by DEO in 2016-2017. Further 24 million Euros will be allocated by DEO, in 2017-2018.

58.In line with the Plan, on 10 June 2016, DEO-PCM published a public Call for proposals to fund assistance projects for THB victims, for about 14.5 million Euros. On 4August, the list of the winning projects was published, and the projects with a 15-month duration started on 1 September 2016.

59.On the occasion of the EU Anti-Trafficking Day, on 18 October 2016, DEO launched the new awareness campaign (TV advertisement), aimed at increasing knowledge of the National Toll-free Anti-Trafficking number 800 290 290. The campaign was broadcast on the main national public network and was developed in collaboration with NGOs, within the framework of the above-mentioned Steering Committee. The campaign is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GB0z_WlqKI&feature=youtu.be.

60.The Plan involves all the competent Administrations. Therefore, on 2 August 2016, a political and institutional Steering Committee, chaired by President of Ministers’ Council or by the political Authority in charge of gender equality, was established. The Committee is composed by the political and technical representatives of the Ministry of: Interior; Justice; Education; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Health; Mipaaf; Defence; Economy and Finance; Labour, as well as by representatives from the National Anti-Mafia Directorate, Carabinieri Corps, State Police, Financial Police, Regions, and local Authorities.

61.In compliance with the National Action Plan against Trafficking in and Serious Exploitation of Human Beings, the political and institutional Steering Committee gathered for the first time on 24 October 2016.

62.More specifically, the work is carried out by a double-track approach: repression, under which Police and Judiciary play an essential role; prevention and protection, in which DCLI is engaged, including through its participation in the Inter-ministerial Committee for THB Victims. Throughout the Plan, the Ministry of Interior is fully engaged in terms of guidance and actions, including through its DPS (i.e. training, administrative controls; multi-agency judicial cooperation; reporting; rapid identification of victims; National Referral Mechanism’s establishment by the elaboration of “Standard Operating Procedures”. As for Police-related international cooperation, the Service for Police International Cooperation, resorting to S.I.Re.N.E., Europol, and Interpol, is the National Focal Point).

63.As for unaccompanied minors (UAMs), Legislative Decree 142/2015 implementing Directive 2013/33/EU and Directive 2013/32/EUenvisages specific “Provisions on minors (Art. 18)” and “UAMs Reception (Art.19)”. At disembarkation sites, immediate rescue and first aid are generally secured by Police, jointly with health-care providers and CSOs authorized by the Ministry of Interior (i.e. “Presidium project”). UAMs are thus placed in first aid governmental Centres for identification, age and status’ definition purposes while Social Services and the Prefectures are alerted. The second level of reception falls within the SPRAR and does not envisage any role for Police. Last, at DCLI a specific “Mission structure” for UAMs has been established, to place them in relevant Centres.

Question 9

64.In addition to the above information under Q.8, DEO receives data on THB victims who are protected under the specific funded protection projects. According to this data, in 2015 the protected women victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation were 379 and, in 2016, 623 totally.

65.DCLI recalls, as follows: 1) In January 2017, DPCM 234/2016 governing the modalities for age assessment of foreign UAMs victims of trafficking was adopted; 2) A joint project of the National Commission for the Right of Asylum and UNHCR, to draft “Guidelines for victims of trafficking applying for international protection”, aimed to victims’ early identification by territorial Commissions; 3) ADITUS Project, as recently launched by IOM — with the tri-fold aim of enhancing information service for migrants landed by sea, with focus on UAMs and THB victims; improving early identification and assistance to THB victims at landing areas/ports and hotspots; promoting awareness among local Institutions and first aid and reception operators about THB and relevant legislation and measures, including psycho-social measures for migrants exposed to labour exploitation and other abuses.

66.Ministry of Health participated in the definition of the NAP against THB, and participates in the leadership and thematic WGs on prevention and protection/assistance. By involving Regions, Interior Ministry, INMP, CSOs, and UNHCR, Ministry of Health elaborated — and now implements — by Ministerial Decree, dated April 3, 2017, “Guidelines for asylum-seekers and refugees, victims of torture, rape and other forms of violence, including training for health-care personnel and specific pathways for women and children”.

67.As for age’s verification, in addition to the above DPCM 234, the recently-adopted Legislative Decree 47/2017 envisages, inter alia, a multi-agency approach, and specifically trained personnel, to ensure the full respect for UAMs. In this regard, Ministry of Health has elaborated a “Multidisciplinary Protocol for UAMs’ age verification”, to extend the above DPCM 234 to those minors that are not THB victims, so as to ensure uniform and effective implementation.

Participation in political and public life

Question 10

68.The relevant constitutional Bill on “Provisions to overcome the perfect bicameral system, reduction of parliamentarians’ number, cost-containment with regard to Institutions’ functioning, elimination of CNEL, and revision of Title V, Part II of the Constitution” was adopted, at the second deliberation, by an absolute majority (and not a 2/3 majority) at both Parliament’s Chambers and was thus published on Official Bulletin 88, dated April 15, 2016. It envisaged that Art.55 of the Constitution would have stipulated as follows: “(Para. 2) Laws that define the modalities for the election to the Chambers promote equality between women and men in the representation”. Pursuant to Article 138 of the Constitution, a popular referendum to confirm or not the above Law was held on December 4, 2016, and, as well-known, the above overall reform was rejected.

69.As for results achieved after the adoption of Law 65/2014 on the European Parliament election, women within the European Parliament have increased: before the entry into force of the above Law, women parliamentarians were 18 (=25%); afterwards and with the 2014 election, the number has increased to 29 (=39.73%).

70.At the EU Parliament level, variation’s rate between 2009-2016 indicates a general increase of women parliamentarians, from 35% to 37%; and Italy is among those countries with the highest increase.

71.Nationally, under current Legislature, women parliamentarians are 30.1% (whereas EU average’s equals to 29%).

72.Since the first Legislature in Italy, women parliamentarians’ rate has been increasing. Under current Legislature (XVII), they equal to 30.1% (Under XVI’s, they were 19.5%).

73.As for the implementation of Law 215/2012 establishing provisions to promote gender balance in local governments and regional councils, women’s percentage significantly increased:

(a)In regional Councils, in 2010 it was equal to 11.9%, whereas, in 2016, women represented on average 18% of regional counsellors;

(b)In 2010, women made up for 24.2% of regional governments’ members. In 2016, their percentage was equal to 35%; and two women are regional Presidents (Umbria and Friuli Venezia Giulia);

(c)At the local level (Municipalities), women in local administrations have increased by 38.8%, from 2012 to 2015. Specifically, women’s rate in local Assemblies of Municipalities with over 15,000 inhabitants equals to 30,7%; and 26% in Municipalities with less than 15.000 inhabitants. Women mayors are 1.105 (=14,1%). As for metropolitan cities (Act 56/2014), 43 women out of 194 councillors have been elected as metropolitan councillors in ten metropolitan cities (= 22.2%).

74.Concerning the implementation of DPR 251/2012 on Equal Access to Boards of Directors and Boards of Statutory Auditors and the related penalties applied for companies in case of non-compliance, in the period 2012-2016, DEO has received 640 communications on the composition of the boards after their renewal or partial change from 430 companies. Following the above-mentioned communications and the notices from third parties, 37 first warnings were issued, and 22 second warnings for those companies that continued not to comply with the DPR even after the issuance of the first warnings. In this regard, it should be noticed that 15 companies have adapted their boards after the first warning; 18 after the second; and 1 of them has not complied and therefore its elected body has been removed.

75.As for the surveillance procedures started directly by DEO, in 2012-2016, 121 first warnings and 64 second warnings were issued. 57 companies have adapted their boards to the DPR after receiving the first warning and 52 after receiving the second one. 5 of them have not complied and therefore their elective bodies have been removed.

76.In 2015, women ambassadors were 12 out of 129 (= 9%); and 11 women were Consul General/Consul (=18%). In 2016, women Police executives (ordinary functions) were 246 out of 931; and under technical functions, they were 8 out of 77. As for women judges in executive positions, they are 105 out of 409 judges. Within Constitutional Court, 3 judges out of 15 are women. As for independent administrative Authorities under Act 114/2014, 12 out of 36 members are women (33%). Plus, a woman runs the Children’s Rights Ombudsperson (Annex 5 on gender disaggregated data concerning PA’s staff).

Education

Question 11

77.In Italy, the percentage of women working in the technical-scientific sector is one of the lowest among OECD States: 31.71%; and only 5% of the girls, aged 15, aim at technical/scientific job positions.

78.The “STEM month”, launched last March 8, is a joint MIUR-DEO project, to promote, at all educational levels and for all students, boys and girls, the study of STEM-related disciplines. This project highlights the opportunity that STEM disciplines can bring besides fighting gender stereotypes. Under this project, “The female students count!” campaign allows all female students to make a video to explain their passion for STEM, and winners will attend a specific STEM-related training.

79.Recently, the MIUR-designed web-portal “www.noisiamopari.it”, aimed at sharing good practices in the schools, eliminating GBV and eradicating patriarchal stereotypes, has been enhanced. The portal connects national Institutions, schools, students and those companies specifically committed to gender equality. “The female students count!” campaign was warmly welcomed by female students; and many schools have participated in it, by sharing good teaching practices against GBV.

80.The Health Ministry, under an MoU signed with MIUR on 2 April 2015 to strengthen inter-institutional collaboration aimed to define common strategies between health and school, is working to finalize “National Guidelines for Education to Affectivity, Sexuality and Reproductive Health in Schools”, along the WHO Guidelines on Sexual Education — as adapted to Italian reality and school system, especially with regard to the relation between age groups and school cycles, besides considering the National School Guidelines.

Employment and economic empowerment

Question 12

81.By recalling VII periodic Report of Italy, from the 2016 annual general Report by National Labour Inspectorate, it emerges as follows: “Supervisory activity aimed at ensuring physical and economic protection of working mothers and equal opportunities between men and women has allowed to detect a number of administrative and criminal conducts, equalling to 711 cases (with a drop of 35%, compared to 1,097 in 2015). The conducts under reference are concentrated in the service sector (where working women’s rate is traditionally more significant), with 585 violations. Within this sector, in particular 180 illicit actions refer to Trade; 129, to accommodation and catering-related services; and 72 refer to social and health-care. Also significant is the number of irregularities related to manufacturing, with 103 violations”.

82.With specific regard to data on blank resignations pursuant to Art.55 of Legislative Decree 151/2001, from the specific 2015 report (http://www.lavoro.gov.it/notizie/Documents/Convalida-dimissioni-relazione-2015.pdf), it emerges inter alia, as follows: “Failed validations equal to 11 (0.03%), nation-wide. This contrasts with data from past years (The 2014 figure marked an increase with 98 cases, compared to 52 in the year 2013)”.

83.As for relevant bodies’ rationalization under Legislative Decree 151/2015, amending Code for Equal Opportunities Between Women and Men (Legislative Decree 198/2006), the territorial adjustment of Equality Councillors stems from the reform of Local Authorities under Act 56/2014.

84.As for Public Administrations, triennial Plans on positive actions are mandatory pursuant to Art.48 of Legislative Decree 198/2006, otherwise no new recruitment can take place (Art. 6, para.6, Legislative Decree 165/2001). Plus, territorial Equality Councillors provide opinions on the above Plans (Art. 48, para.1, g, Lgs. Decree 198/2006).

85.In addition to paras.103-105 of VII periodic Report and page 10 of Annex 1 “Miscellaneous” (mentioning, inter alia, baby-sitting vouchers, Bonus Bebe ’, and parental leaves), the Government has modified the discipline governing parental leave, stating that such leave should refer also to cases of adoption or fostering, extending eligibility by including children up to the age of 12 [Article 7, paragraph 1, letter a) of the Legislative Decree No. 80 of 2015] and, in certain cases, allowing the parent to choose a daily use of parental leave, namely on an hourly basis, without any prejudice to an allowance equals to 30% of the wage until the child reaches the age of 6 (and not 3, as previously indicated).

86.With the same purpose, Article 1, paragraphs 282 and 283 of Stability Act-2016 acknowledges to working women — employed by public administrations or private employers, or registered under the separate management scheme (Gestione separata) — the possibility to obtain, in lieu of the parental leave, an economic contribution for baby-sitting services or, alternatively, to cover the costs of public child-care services.

87.In order to enable an increased sharing of parental responsibility, Article 1, paragraph 205 of the Stability Act-2016 has extended to two days the mandatory leave for employed fathers, as already introduced by Act 92/2012. The mandatory leave for employed fathers has also been confirmed by Act 232/2016, envisaging a 2-day-parental leave for 2017 and a 4-day one for 2018 — to be used also in a non‑continuous manner — to which an additional day can be added, upon prior agreement with the mother and only in her replacement, with regard to her mandatory leave period. A summary table is provided below:

Mandatory paternity leave

Years	Days of mandatory leave	Days of voluntary leave
2013-2015	1	2
2016	2	2
2017	2	0
2018	4	1

88.From January 1, 2017, in case of birth or child adoption, National Institute of Social Security (in Italian, INPS) allocates an 800 Euros-premium, upon mother’s request.

89.Starting from 2017, INPS allocates for those born from January 1, 2016, an annual 1.000-Euro bonus (Bonus nido), to pay public and private kindergartens’ fees and for support forms at home, in case of children up to age of 3 with serious chronic diseases. State has been allocating increasing funding: 144 million Euros for 2017 up to 330 million Euros, starting from 2020 (Budget law-2017).

90.The child-care services will become part of the educational system. It has been instituted, for the first time, an educational system for children aged 0 to 6 with the aim to ensuring “to all children, boys and girls, equal educational opportunities, education, childhood assistance, relationship and leisure”. The relevant national educational system for children will be increased, enlarged and qualified, with the involvement of several representatives from State, Regions, local governments, and families.

91.Given the short period of concrete application, official data on leaves for women workers, victims of violence, introduced by the so-called Jobs Act, is being processed.

Question 13

92.As for the results achieved through the Special Section of SMEs Central Guarantee Fund, in 2015 the Special Section of the Fund has recorded about 11,951 transactions (+ 14.1% compared with 2014), for a total amount of 908.2 million Euros funding (+ 9.6%) and a total guaranteed amount of 600.6 million Euros (+10.6%).

93.In 2016, the Special Section recorded about 13,123 transactions (+ 9.8% compared with 2015), for a total amount of 990.8 million Euros funding (+ 9.1%) and a total guaranteed amount of 672.6 million Euros (+12%).

94.In the first quarter of 2017, the Special Section recorded about 3,515 transactions (+ 11.9% compared with the first quarter of 2016), for a total amount of 270.6 million Euros funding (+ 24.3%) and a total guaranteed amount of 186.6 million Euros (+29.8%): In the reporting period (2015-2017), the total guaranteed amount equals to 1,459,783,000 Euros.

95.As for the MoU signed on 4 June 2014, by DEO-PCM, Ministry of Economic Development, ABI, Confindustria, Confapi, Italian Enterprises Network, and Alliance of Italian Cooperatives, a significant number of banks (55) — representative of 37% of the national banking sector — has joined the agreement, overall allocating about 1,500,000,000 for more than 1,400,000 women entrepreneurs and self-employed women.

96.As explained in the VII periodic Report, the Project “Women Mean Business and Economic Growth — Promoting Gender Balance in Company Boards” was mainly aimed at providing data on female leadership and best practices, to promote female leadership in Italy and carrying out an impact-assessment analysis of the new legislation and aggregated measures.

97.As a result of the project, a database was built with the main socio-demographic information on members of boards of directors and boards of statutory auditors, both men and women, of the 241 companies listed on the Italian stock exchange. Such information reveals that:

(a)Women are increasingly represented on boards: for boards of directors, the percentage of women increased from 12,6% to 15% to 24,9% from the pre‑reform (adoption of Law 251/2012) group to the phase-in and the post-reform groups. A similar increase is also for statutory auditors’ boards;

(b)Quotas result in younger female board members;

(c)Quotas result in more female presidents, but fewer female CEOs;

(d)Quotas result in more educated members, particularly because the companies that have revamped their boards with the quota law in place have more male members with post-secondary education;

(e)Members of more than one boards decrease after the adoption of the quota system;

(f)Quotas are associated with fewer females who are members of family-owned businesses.

98.These results suggest that quotas have not been associated with a decrease in the quality of representatives (a common concern related to the introduction of gender quotas), but rather the opposite.

99.The project has also empirically investigated whether the Italian case of gender quotas can provide additional and new evidence on the relationship between women’s empowerment and companies’ performance.

100.The results showed that all considered outcomes are not significantly (hence, not negatively) affected by women’s proportion on boards with one notable exception; the reform imposing a higher women’s proportion on boards has on average decreased companies’ short-term debt.

101.This generally means an improvement in the income and expenditure balance, or an enhancement of the company’s capability to be paid by its own customers, i.e. a potential improvement in the company’s performance.

102.Following introduction of Act 120/2011, as implemented by DPR 251/2012, national women’s rate keeps increasing, at a EU level.

Question 14

103.Both the Italian Constitutional and legal system are based upon universality of human rights and gender equality. Legislative Decree 216/2003 (implementing Directive 2000/78/EC on equal treatment in employment and occupation) stipulates the prohibition of discrimination.

104.Law 2006/67 envisages: judicial protection measures for persons being victims of discrimination on the disability ground; and removal of discrimination when accessing employment and self-employment and during labour’s life. The complaint lodged with the judiciary allows cessation of the discriminatory acts; and trade unions and representative organizations have locus standi for cases of collective discrimination.

105.Act 1999/68, entitled “ Provisions for the right to work of Persons With Disabilities” provides for a general discipline on PWD’s right to work: from the assessment of PWD’s skills and job placement at work-place through support services and measures. The system of targeted employment is for both women and men with disabilities (Italian and foreigners), who are unemployed and aim to a suitable job. This legislation considers both men and women with disabilities: people suffering from physical, psychic and intellective impairments, with a reduced working capacity greater than 45%; people with disabilities caused by work and with a degree of disability greater than 33%; blind people (suffering from absolute blindness or a residual vision of not more than 1/20 in both eyes with correction), or deaf (with hearing loss from birth or before learning spoken language); people disabled because of war, legal and service disabilities included from the first up to the eighth category, pursuant to DPR 915/78. This legislation provides for public and private employers an obligation of hiring people with disabilities based on the number of employees, as follows: 1 person with disabilities, if they hold 15 up to 35 employees; 2 people with disabilities, if they have hold 36 up to 50 employees; 7% of workers with disabilities if they have more than 50 employees.

106.The latest 2016 data on working women with disabilities provided by Regions and Provinces, covering the years 2014-2015, indicates that the number of persons with disabilities (both Italian and Non-EU citizens) recorded in the placements lists of the job services amounts to: in the year 2014, 789,383; and in 2015, 775,095.

107.With regard to women with disabilities: in 2014, the lists reported 369,586; in 2015, 358,044. Non-EU foreigners are about 2% of the total amount in both years. The male quota is greater than the female’s: 2.1% against 1.4% in 2014, and 2.4% against 1.6% in the following year, respectively.

Health

Question 15

108.As for mammography-screening programs, usually targeting women aged 50-69, some Regions have extended invitation to women aged 45-49 and 70-74, respectively. There is a strong decreasing trend in invitation coverage and participation in screening programs from North to South. In metropolitan areas, both invitation coverage (rate ratio 0.35-0.96) and participation (ratio 0.63-0.88) are lower. An inverse relation exists between spontaneous screening and both screening invitation coverage (1-3% decrease in invitation coverage per 1% spontaneous coverage increase) and participation (2% decrease in participation per 1% spontaneous coverage increase) for the three programs. High recall rate has a negative effect on invitation coverage in the next round for breast cancer (1% decrease in invitation per 1% recall increase).

109.In order to foster coverage and quality of screening programs, two strategies are in place: 1) regionally, modifiable determinants of the barriers to extending invitations to all populations, other than lack of resources, are systematically studied by the PRECEDE-PROCEED model applied to the screening programs, to be customized to analyse specific barriers for each territory; 2) at the central level, the monitoring of performances and financial leverages are routinely applied.

110.Over the years, HIV infection has presented profound changes in terms of epidemiology and social welfare realities. There are still unresolved issues, most notably continuing HIV spread.

111.In recent years, the number of new infections has remained stable.

112.The proportion of females among the new diagnosed has declined over the past 15 years, from 33.7% in 2001 to 22.6% in 2015.

113.The incidence of new HIV diagnoses, adjusted for age and gender — although declined over the years — is about four times higher among foreigners; over 60% acquired infection with heterosexual relationships, and 2/3 of them are women.

114.Italy has decided to draft a new action plan based on analysis of the current epidemic situation and evidence-based assessment of the results achieved so far. Ministry of Health has elaborated a National Action Plan against HIV-AIDS (PNAIDS), in cooperation with the Committee to Fight AIDS, CSOs, and some scientific societies pursuant to Law 135/90. It provides for implementation of multiannual actions concerning prevention, information, research, diagnosis and inclusion strategies in the ‘continuum of care’, epidemiological surveillance and support for volunteering activities. It aims to outline the best possible pathway to achieve priorities identified by International Organizations (ECDC, UNAIDS, WHO), in line with the Action Plan for the health-sector response to HIV in the WHO European Region (Copenhagen, September 2016). In particular, it focuses on the fight against stigmatization and high-effective prevention based on scientific evidence. The Plan includes strategies for key populations, such as prisoners, migrants, sex workers, etc.

Question 16

115.DPCM 65/2017 updates the Essential Levels of Assistance (acronym in Italian, LEA), as a result of shared work among State, Regions and scientific societies. The 2016 Stability Law earmarks 800 million Euros to upgrade LEA.

116.In recent years, social and health-care services for women’s health protection, as carried out at a territorial level, mainly in counselling centres (Consultori), have not undergone a process of privatization or reliance on third parties.

117.The Italian National Health Service (acronym in Italian, SSN) normally performs its activities either through public facilities or through private facilities that are accredited and under contract. Therefore, the prevention and counselling activities already carried out in Consultori, active at a territorial level, have not been put at risk. Instead, they find a wider reference under new LEA.

118.The Family Counselling Centres, established by Act 405/1975, keep their connotation of a strong basic service oriented to prevention, information and health education, reserving to diagnosis and care a “first instance” competence, as integrated by hospitals and the services of local Authorities.

119.Art.24 of the above DPCM deals with “Social and health-care assistance for minors, women, couples and families”. In this context, “Prevention, early detection and assistance in cases of sexual and GBV” is included. Moreover, Ministry of Health is planning key actions to re-adapt family counselling Centres to the needs of today’s society.

120.The National Health Service, in order to guarantee LEA’s activity on “Collective Prevention and Public Health” provides for funding of 5% of the National Health Fund. It is up to the regional level to define how to organize health services, including counselling activities and other activities to protect women’s health, with the allocation of resources; and the national level conducts LEA-related monitoring and control.

Question 17

121.Since the entry into force of Act 194/78, Ministry of Health submits to Parliament an annual report on the state of implementation of the law (Annexes 6.1, 6.2, 6.3), with one — at an international level — of the most reliable and comprehensive monitoring and data collection system. Data on conscientious objection has been always collected at a regional level; and since 2013, with the inception of Minister of Health Beatrice Lorenzin, data collection takes place at a single facility level.

122.The large number of objectors in absolute terms is not a significant factor in evaluating the availability of abortion services: the number of non-objectors who perform abortions has remained stable. Their number needs to be assessed in relation to the number of abortions carried out. In this regard, procured abortions were 233.976 in 1983: a number more than halved by 2014, with 96.578. Over this period, the number of non-objecting medical practitioners was substantially unchanged: some 1600 in 1983 and some 1400 in 2014.

•This means that in thirty years, the number of weekly procured abortions carried out nation-wide by non-objecting gynaecologists has halved: in 1983, they performed 3.3 abortions each, per week (in 44 working weeks), and only 1.6 in 2014. It is not clear why now there should be a problem of excessive conscientious objectors, compared with previous years, when the workload was double. By analysing data at a sub-regional level, only three out of 140 ASL depart from the national and regional average: and, with values that do not prevent non-objectors from carrying out other activities.

123.Moreover, in the course of the current year to ensure that the average values could depict the real situation, it has been asked to Regions if there were no objectors gynaecologists not assigned to abortion service. From relevant regional data (save Liguria, Latium and Sicily), nationally 11% of gynaecologists-objectors is assigned to other services and not to the abortion service. This means that 11% of gynaecologists do not perform abortions even if they are not objectors.

124.In Italy, voluntary pregnancy interruption (IVG) is performed in public facilities using both surgical and pharmacological methods.

125.Concerning emergency contraception, since May 2015 it has been eliminated the compulsory medical prescription for acetate Ulipristal (ellaOne) for women aged 18 and over.

Disadvantaged groups of women

Question 18

126.In 2015, women in rural areas were 22 million, equalling to 69% of Italian women. There are numerous regional (21 Rural Regional Programmes — PSR) and local (through i.e. “Leader approach”, integrated projects) initiatives, to enhance women’s participation and access to farming.

127.According to the VI Agricultural Sector census-2012, women farms were about 500.000 with a progressive increase from 26% in 1990 to 31% in 2010. 9% of women-run farms are under the age of 40 (=32% of young farmers). Younger entrepreneurs achieve on average higher production levels, per farm. They hold higher education, show greater propensity towards the markets and a greater diversification of farm activities.

128.Migrants represent 25% of the agriculture workforce, of which 7% are women, mostly with temporary job (80%), generally connected to seasonal harvest, and mainly working in the Centre-South of Italy (60%), with higher percentages in Calabria, Apulia and Campania. Most migrant women working in agriculture are young (47% aged less than 40) and wishing to change work due to inter alia low salaries.

129.In 2015, to combat irregularities in the agricultural sector (which affect mainly women and migrants), the Government has established (Art.6 Law Decree 91/2014 as amended) inter alia the Network for the quality agricultural job, which certifies the quality of agricultural farms.

130.The Parliament passed Act 199/2016 in October 2016, to fight against undeclared work and labour exploitation in agriculture (“Legge sul Caporalato”), which extends the objectives of the Fund for THB victims under Act 228/2003 also to victims of illegal recruitment and labour exploitation, including assistance and social integration/protection programs. Plus, when a migrant worker files complaint against the employer and collaborates with the justice is entitled to a residence permit for humanitarian reasons. The 6-month permit can be extended for 1 year or for the entire duration of the legal proceeding, and enables him/her to work.

131.Under Rural Policy, women’s participation in Regional Rural Programs accounts for about 32%; and this Policy focuses on measures to increase human capital through educational and informational activities, strengthening the competitiveness, and facilitating generational exchange or new agricultural farms.

132.Mipaaf is committed to monitoring this situation also thanks to its researches institutions (CREA, ISMEA). More generally, under the Programme of activities of the National Rural Network (2014-2020), it promotes several measures, such as the project on “Female job, juvenile entrepreneurship, first establishment in agriculture”, aimed at awareness-raising and at valuing and exchanging best practices (CREA, ISMEA).

133.In 2016, UNAR Contact Centre worked on 275 cases of discrimination against women, 76% of which relate to discrimination on ethnic-racial grounds; among these 5% is against Roma, Sinti and Caminanti (RSC). A human rights-based approach, non-discrimination, Human Rights Education, and a gender perspective underpin the National Roma Strategy and all relevant initiatives besides being considered within the new EU Funds Planning, 2014-2020.

134.In 2014, UNAR published “Roma women”. Over the years, there have been many activities to raise awareness about CEFM and traditional harmful practices, as well as some initiatives relating to Education and Health. In 2015, some country missions to Albania on THB, especially in Roma women and children, and to Romania on CEFM are to be mentioned, as well.

135.It is also worth-mentioning Romnia onlus, the first national network of Roma women. And UNAR has supported many Roma women-related initiatives, such as the Rowni network, set up by a Roma woman.

136.Finally, UNAR is increasingly involved in relevant international and regional measures, such as Council of Europe (CoE) conferences, studies and advisory missions. On October 2016, it organized the launch of JUSTROM project, co‑funded by the European Commission and CoE, and managed with UNAR partnership. This aims to increase knowledge of Roma women about non‑discrimination and human rights.

Question 19 and question 20

137.The new two-year project “PASSIM” — headed by the Ministry of Health and resources from the Fund on Asylum, Migration and Integration — aims to ensuring efficiency and continuity of first aid and health-care screening, during search and rescue (acronym in Italian, SAR) operations at sea.

138.Since February 1, 2017, it aims at enhancing inter alia the role played by the National Authority in charge of the management of migrants arriving at the borders, from the public, trans-border and individual health-care standpoints, and the coordination with all stakeholders involved in the above operations. To ensure strict observance of human rights, IOM and UNHCR cooperate with and are always at disembarkation places and in all reception facilities, pursuant to Legislative Decree 142/2015.

139.To provide medical assistance, specialized care and psychological support to migrants hosted in reception Centers in Lampedusa-Contrada Imbricola and in Trapani-Milo, on 19 February 2017 DLCI signed two Agreements with INMP to promote healthcare of migrants and to combat poverty-related diseases, in addition to the medical care provided by the local health authorities and the mangers of the reception Centers.

Question 21

140.The measures under reference fall within: the drafting of the 2nd Biennial Plan currently being issued by the Observatory on Persons with Disabilities; Intervention Line 8 — Development of the statistical system and monitoring of the implementation of the policies; and ISTAT that will request cooperation from the administrations concerned.

141.Among the elaborated proposals, the first one of particular importance provides for normative intervention to ensure the integration of administrative archives containing disability-related data, in order to expand relevant statistical information: a strategy which can be pursued through the digitalization process in place in Public Administrations.

Marriage and family relations

Question 22

142.As earlier reported, the 2017 Budget Law has introduced additional measures supporting future parents and parents with young children (i.e. “Mamma domani” — the 800-Euro-premium; Bonus Nido — being a package of policy actions of a structural nature for everybody and forever; and “Fondo di sostegno alla natalità” to facilitate access to credit for families with 1 or more children, born or adopted, as from 1 January 2017, through also direct guarantees to banks and financial intermediaries (Article 1, Law 232/2016)).

143.In recent years, Italy has promoted policies to support and develop early childhood educational services. The Department for Family Policies contributes to the effective implementation of the “Extraordinary plan for the development of early-childhood socio-educational services”.

144.As emerged from the last Monitoring Report-2015, positive and significant results stem from relevant policies, also thanks to recent investments. In the period 31.12.08-31.12.15, the relevant service system has constantly grown (from 234,703 to 331,600 jobs, with a coverage ranging from 14.8% to 22.3%).

145.Within this framework, nurseries are of specific interest for families and also the service promoting the development of the entire service system (nurseries-related jobs have increased from 210,541 in 2008 to 314,741 in 2015, with coverage growing from 12.5% to 21.1%. By contrast, supplementary services experienced limited development: as the jobs in the field of supplementary education services have gone from 24,162 to 30,966 (with coverage ranging from 1.4% to 2.1%)).