According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001, "legislation protects women from physical abuse, including by family members, allows for the prosecution of perpetrators of violence against women, and shields women who have been objects of attack from publicity" (4 Mar. 2002). A chancellor at the Embassy of Italy indicated during a telephone interview that the police take complaints and act on them in accordance with Italian law (24 May 2002). She further stated that the courts convict individuals who are guilty of violence against women (ibid.).

The UN's Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) lists Italy as a signatory of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (10 May 2002) since 17 July 1980. Article 16 of CEDAW, Equality in All Matters Relating to Marriage and Family Relations, and sub section 16.1, Aspects of Criminal Court Protection for Women, outline various state protection provisions (UN 1 Nov. 1996) for participating states. As a signatory, Italy is "legally bound to put its provisions into practice" (UN n.d.). Please find a copy of Article 16 attached.

Regarding information on state sponsored services for victims of domestic abuse, the Dafne Project is an initiative of the European Community that sponsors projects and activities that fight violence against children, teen-agers and women (Telefono Rosa 29 May 2002). Telefono Rosa, an organization in Italy that assists women who are victims of violence, in association with Europa Rosa 2000, have obtained support from the European Community (ibid.).

The Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE) Database, a "comprehensive database on the subject of violence against women and children in Europe," (19 Nov. 2001) contains over 100 different anti-violence resources for women in Italy, some of which are supported by local governments (WAVE Report Jan. 1998). Please find a copy of this list attached.

No statistical information regarding police protection, court convictions or the rates of domestic violence could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/eur/8272.htm [Accessed 27 May 2002]

Embassy of Italy, Ottawa. 24 May 2002. Telephone interview with Chancellor.

Telefono Rosa. 29 May 2002. http://www.telefonorosa.org/eng/welcome.html [Accessed 29 May 2002]

United Nations, Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). n.d. Country Reports. http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/reports.htm [Accessed 6 June 2002]

_____. 1 November 1996. Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. http://www.un.org/esa/gopher-data/ga/cedaw/17/country/Italy/ [Accessed 6 June 2002]

_____. 10 May 2002. States Parties. http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/states.htm [Accessed 6 June 2002]

Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE), First European Conference [Vienna]. January 1998. Report. http://www.wave-network.org/db/artlist.asp?country=Italy&cat=all&keyword=&pagesize=20&list=start+search&email=# [Accessed 6 June 2002]

_____. 19 November 2001. Database. http://www.wave-network.org/db/index.html [Accessed 6 June 2002]

Attachments

United Nations, Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). 1 November 1996. Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. http://www.un.org/esa/gopher-data/ga/cedaw/17/country/Italy/ [Accessed 6 June 2002]

Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE). 19 November 2001. Database. http://www.wave-network.org/db/index.html [Accessed 6 June 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

Lexis/Nexis

World News Connection

Internet web sites including:

Family Violence Prevention Fund

Feminist.com

Italian National Statistical Institute

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Women's Health Organization

World Health Organization

UNIFEM