Italy(Further Information):
EVICTIONS RESUMED IN ROME

ROMA EVICTED FROM SETTLEMENTS IN ROME

Residents in at least three unauthorized Roma settlements in Rome have been evicted, continuing what seems to be a wave of forced evictions in the Italian capital. According to local NGOs, more than 30 settlements have been evicted since the beginning of April. There are fears that residents in other Roma settlements in the city are at imminent risk of eviction.

On 18 April, Roma families residing in the settlement of Via Severini were evicted by law enforcement authorities. Later the same day, the eviction of Roma people living in the abandoned Mira Lanza factory followed. On the morning of 20 April, a third eviction took place in the settlement of Via del Flauto. These evictions are part of a wave of evictions of unauthorized settlements in Rome, with more than 30 evictions having been reported since the beginning of April. On 6 April, Rome’s Mayor Gianni Alemanno declared, referring to the new wave of evictions, that they were urgent to avoid irregular migrants recently arrived from Tunisia finding refuge in irregular camps.

According to reports by local NGOs, the evictions were implemented without prior notification or consultation with the affected communities. Only women and children were provisionally offered alternative accommodation in the Centre for the Assistance of Asylum Seekers (Centro di Accoglienza per richiedenti asilo – CARA) of Castelnuovo di Porto. This offer was refused in almost all cases, as the families do not want to be separated.

While forced evictions of smaller unauthorized settlements had been carried out in Rome recently, the settlements now targeted are among the biggest in the city. It is estimated that around 700 people, including pregnant women and many children, have been made homeless as a consequence of the three evictions. The lack of security and inadequate living conditions in makeshift camps cannot be solved by forced evictions, which will leave the communities in worse housing and living conditions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Amnesty International is concerned that the evictions might have been implemented in violation of relevant international law and standards. Forced evictions are prohibited under international human rights law. Evictions must only be undertaken as a last resort and only after genuine consultation with the affected communities to explore all feasible alternatives. Legal and procedural protections such as prior notice, access to effective remedies, and provision of compensation must be in place before evictions are carried out and all those who are unable to provide for themselves must be given adequate alternative housing, in line with international standards.

The "Nomad Plan" is a controversial housing plan paving the way for the forced eviction of thousands of Roma and the resettlement of most, but not all of them, in new or expanded camps on the outskirts of big cities. Its implementation is only driving those affected deeper into a cycle of forced evictions and destroying any chance of integration and social inclusion.

For further information, please see: Italy: stop forced evictions and provide adequate alternative housing for Roma families in Rome, at http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR30/004/2011/en

This work forms part of Amnesty International’s global Demand Dignity campaign and the European Fight Against Discrimination campaign.

UA: 121/11 Index: EUR 30/009/2011 Issue Date: 21 April 2011

EVICTIONS SUSPENDED BUT ACTION STILL NEEDED

Evictions of residents of Roma settlements in Rome have been suspended during the past week, following action by Amnesty International and other NGO activists. However, the one-week suspension is coming to an end and the risk of forced evictions remains high.

On 22 April, around 300 Roma living in the unauthorised camp of Via Del Cluniacensi were evicted. Subsequently, around 100 of them sought shelter in the Church of San Paolo Fuori Le Mura. After two days of negotiations with local authorities and representatives of the church, alternative accommodation was provided for the whole community for the 2-3 months to come. Previous offers for temporary accommodation, addressing women and children only, had been refused by the affected families as they would have separated them.

As a result of the pressure from civil society, on 25 April, the authorities suspended evictions for a week. However, the risk of forced evictions after the elapse of this period remains high. Local authorities have publicly stated their intention to resume evictions during the current week.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY, in Italian or your own language, calling authorities to:
-- Stop all forced evictions of Roma settlements in Rome, and ensure that evictions are carried out only as a last resort, and in full compliance with the guarantees required under regional and international human rights standards, including genuine consultation and the provision of adequate alternative housing to all those affected;
-- Provide all those who were evicted with access to effective remedies and adequate alternative housing, ensuring that families are not separated;
-- Immediately put the “Nomad Plan” on hold and take steps to review it in consultation with those affected to ensure that a revised plan provides all those affected with adequate housing solutions in line with international human rights law and does not perpetuate segregation.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 6 MAY 2011 TO:

Prefect of Rome
Giuseppe PECORARO
Via IV Novembre, 119/A
00187 Roma – ITALY
Fax: +39 06 6729 4555
Email: urp.pref_roma@interno.it

And copies to:

Minister of Interior
Roberto MARONI
Palazzo Viminale
Via Agostino Depretis, 7
00184 Roma – ITALY
Fax: +39 06 4654 9832
Email: caposegreteria.ministro@interno.it

Mayor of Rome
Gianni ALEMANNO
Via del Campidoglio, 1
00186 Roma - ITALY
Fax: +39 06 6710 3590
Email: sindaco@comune.roma.it

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 121/11. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR30/009/2011/en

FU UA: 121/11 Index: EUR 30/010/2011 Issue Date: 04 May 2011

EVICTIONS SUSPENDED BUT ACTION STILL NEEDED

Evictions of residents of Roma settlements in Rome have been suspended during the past week, following action by Amnesty International and other NGO activists. However, the one-week suspension is coming to an end and the risk of forced evictions remains high.

On 22 April, around 300 Roma living in the unauthorised camp of Via Del Cluniacensi were evicted. Subsequently, around 100 of them sought shelter in the Church of San Paolo Fuori Le Mura. After two days of negotiations with local authorities and representatives of the church, alternative accommodation was provided for the whole community for the 2-3 months to come. Previous offers for temporary accommodation, addressing women and children only, had been refused by the affected families as they would have separated them.

As a result of the pressure from civil society, on 25 April, the authorities suspended evictions for a week. However, the risk of forced evictions after the elapse of this period remains high. Local authorities have publicly stated their intention to resume evictions during the current week.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY, in Italian or your own language, calling authorities to:
-- Stop all forced evictions of Roma settlements in Rome, and ensure that evictions are carried out only as a last resort, and in full compliance with the guarantees required under regional and international human rights standards, including genuine consultation and the provision of adequate alternative housing to all those affected;
-- Provide all those who were evicted with access to effective remedies and adequate alternative housing, ensuring that families are not separated;
-- Immediately put the “Nomad Plan” on hold and take steps to review it in consultation with those affected to ensure that a revised plan provides all those affected with adequate housing solutions in line with international human rights law and does not perpetuate segregation.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 6 MAY 2011 TO:

Prefect of Rome
Giuseppe PECORARO
Via IV Novembre, 119/A
00187 Roma – ITALY
Fax: +39 06 6729 4555
Email: urp.pref_roma@interno.it

And copies to:

Minister of Interior
Roberto MARONI
Palazzo Viminale
Via Agostino Depretis, 7
00184 Roma – ITALY
Fax: +39 06 4654 9832
Email: caposegreteria.ministro@interno.it

Mayor of Rome
Gianni ALEMANNO
Via del Campidoglio, 1
00186 Roma - ITALY
Fax: +39 06 6710 3590
Email: sindaco@comune.roma.it

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 121/11. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR30/009/2011/en

FU UA: 121/11 Index: EUR 30/010/2011 Issue Date: 04 May 2011

EVICTIONS RESUMED IN ROME

Around five hundred Roma people residing in unauthorized settlements in Rome were evicted on 9 and 10 May. Although no further evictions have been reported since then, the threat of new forced evictions continues.

Roma communities residing in at least three unauthorized camps were forcibly evicted on 9 and 10 May. Settlements in Via Candoni and below the Magliana viaduct were evicted by national and municipal police forces on Monday 9, while on Tuesday 10, a small informal settlement in Via Salaria was evicted. It is also reported that two other small camps have been evicted on Monday, 9 May.

The shacks in which the Roma were living were almost all destroyed. The only shacks left standing were those housing children going to school. The local government conceded that families with children going to school can stay until the end of the school year, in June 2011.

According to local NGOs, the evictions were implemented without prior notification or consultation with the affected communities. Only women and children were provisionally offered alternative accommodation, and this offer was refused in almost all cases, as the families do not want to be separated.

On Tuesday 17 May, police reportedly visited the camp of Via Candoni again and - for the second time - evicted families who had returned to the same place to build new shacks after their eviction on 9 May.

No further evictions have been reported in the last few days. However, new evictions of unauthorized camps − where those previously evicted have resettled, in the absence of adequate alternatives − are likely to be carried out in the future.

While this Urgent Action will now close, the campaigning continues on a longer term basis.

Please take action by signing the petition at the link www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/roma-children-and-their-families-should-live-real-homes and participating in the “twin postcards” photo-petition at the link www.amnesty.org/en/roma-children-their-families

For further information, please see: Italy: stop forced evictions and provide adequate alternative housing for Roma families in Rome, at http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR30/004/2011/en

This work forms part of Amnesty International’s global Demand Dignity campaign and the European Fight Against Discrimination campaign.

This is the 2nd update of UA 121/11. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR30/009/2011/en
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR30/010/2011/en

FU on UA: 121/11 Index: EUR 30/011/2011 Issue Date: 18 May 2011