The delays and obstacles faced by asylum seekers in Italy, as outlined in the International Rescue Committee report (IRC), constitute clear violations of their basic rights. These individuals are subjected to prolonged periods of uncertainty and hardship, often enduring harsh living conditions without access to essential resources such as food, water, and adequate shelter. Additionally, discrimination exacerbates their plight, further marginalizing them within society and impeding their ability to seek and obtain the protection they desperately need.
Asylum seekers in Italy encounter significant delays and hurdles in submitting applications for international protection, according to a recent report by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The report exposes a distressing reality where some migrants endure rough living conditions for up to eight months due to these delays and experiences of discrimination. These conditions amount to serious violations of basic rights.
As the IRC outlines, these conditions constitute serious violations of basic rights. Susanna Zanfrini, the IRC’s Italy Country Director, emphasizes that access to asylum remains significantly restricted or even entirely blocked in various parts of Italy. The Italian government’s focus on preventing European arrivals rather than improving the reception system exacerbates these challenges.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is criticized for prioritizing measures to prevent arrivals into Italy instead of enhancing the reception system. The report’s findings cast doubts on Italy’s controversial deal with Albania, particularly concerning plans to construct migrant processing centers capable of holding up to 3,000 migrants each.
Despite Prime Minister Meloni’s assurances that asylum request processing would take only a month, facilitating the passage of approximately 36,000 people through the centers annually, concerns persist regarding the process’s efficacy and fairness.
As of the time of writing, the Interior Ministry in Rome has not responded to inquiries regarding the allegations made by the IRC. Data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicates that between January 1 and March 29 this year, over 11,000 migrants have arrived on Italy’s shores, with a significant proportion originating from Bangladesh. Last year, Italian authorities recorded close to 160,000 irregular arrivals.
The IRC report also highlights introducing a new online system in Milan to streamline the application process for international protection. However, the system has reportedly introduced additional burdens that are far from resolving the backlog. Many individuals in Italy find themselves trapped in an asylum vacuum, lacking proper documentation, work, or accommodation, and enduring a limbo that can last up to eight months.
As reported by several sources, including the Asylum Information Database (AIDA), the average processing time for asylum applications in large Italian cities ranges from six to 12 months. In 2022, Italian authorities examined 58,478 asylum applications, leaving 51,601 applications pending by the end of the year.
In addition to the challenges posed by homelessness, IRC staff report instances of police demanding unnecessary documents and failing to provide translations. The sheer volume of asylum applications, with 13,000 filed in January alone, underscores the urgency of addressing these issues.
The IRC’s recent report highlights that 135,820 requests for international protection were filed in Italy in 2023, indicating a substantial demand for asylum in the country. Founded in 1933 to assist individuals affected by conflict and disaster, the IRC operates in 50 countries worldwide and strives to uphold migrant rights and address humanitarian crises.