UN Experts Accuse Italy of Violating the Rights of Evictees, Independence of the Judiciary
After the standard 60-day period had passed, the communication sent to Italy on 27 February 2025, by the UN Special Rapporteurs on the right to housing, the rights of persons with disabilities, extreme poverty, the independence of judges and lawyers, and the UN Expert on the human rights of older persons, was made public.
Just weeks after eight UN Rapporteurs criticized the Security Law Decree, five additional UN Rapporteurs have accused the Italian government of failing to implement protective measures for evictees as required by the UN Committee.
This marks a further, precise, and strongly worded indictment of the Italian government for violating the right to housing enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which Italy has ratified.
The UN Rapporteurs refer to seven eviction cases in Rome involving elderly, ill, defrauded individuals and migrants who filed appeals to the UN Committee under the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR, ratified by Italy. The Rapporteurs accuse Italy of carrying out the evictions in violation of precautionary measures—specifically, the suspension of evictions and the provision of adequate alternative housing—requested by the UN Committee.
These are just seven cases; dozens more appeals are currently pending before the UN Committee, supported by the International Alliance of Inhabitants, the Tenants Union (Unione Inquilini), and other organizations. This is not merely the UN acknowledging a generalized housing crisis in Italy. These are specific allegations of legal violations: by the Meloni government, which has cut funding for rent assistance and public housing; by the majority of mayors who fail to uphold these rights, including the right to health through, for example, the requisition of empty housing; and by judges, bailiffs, and law enforcement officials who enforce evictions without ensuring alternative adequate housing is provided.
The allegations are extremely serious: Italy should not have forced these individuals onto the streets or into temporary and disruptive family shelters—especially before the UN Committee issued its final rulings.
The government further breached regulations and procedures by interfering with the independence of the judiciary, particularly through the Prime Minister’s Office Order CT 16061/2022, dated May 25, 2022. This order instructs enforcement judges to treat precautionary measures requested by the UN Committee as non-binding. This, in turn, restricts access to justice, especially due to increased litigation costs for those who lose their cases—often individuals already facing eviction.
The Italian Government Must Urgently Respond to the UN Rapporteurs` Demands
The UN Rapporteurs stress that Italy and its institutions are obligated to adopt housing policies that reflect the social function of housing in accordance with human rights. Housing must not become a mere commodity in a financialized, unregulated real estate market rooted in economic imbalance and widespread exclusion.
The UN Rapporteurs strongly urge the Italian government to:
Immediately resolve the seven eviction cases
Prevent further violations
Identify and hold accountable those responsible
They also ask:
What is the justification for the Prime Minister`s Office Order that instructs courts not to apply interim measures requested by the UN Committee?
What steps are being taken to ensure housing security and provide evictees with adequate alternative accommodation?
What rent support mechanisms exist to prevent arrears?
How many evictions have been carried out since 2020?
What is being done to remove economic barriers to accessing justice?
Italian candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council Overshadowed by Harsh Criticism
Given the structural nature of these allegations, the UN Rapporteurs go further, asking whether Italy intends to honor its international commitments or formally withdraw from them.
The lack of a response—or dishonest responses—will be included in the Annual Report to the UN Human Rights Council. These new accusations, following those against the Security Decree, seriously damage Italy`s international image. As the country campaigns for a seat on the Human Rights Council for 2026–2028, its credibility is being undermined both politically and diplomatically.
Call to Action
The International Alliance of Inhabitants and the Tenants Union call on people to file appeals with the UN Committee and formally notify mayors of their obligations to protect health and housing rights.
Together, they call on all social and trade union organizations to intensify mobilization efforts for zero evictions, using every legal and civil tool available—especially appeals to the UN Committee, formal notices to comply with interim measures, and support for constitutional challenges to evictions carried out without provision of adequate alternative housing.
Cesare Ottolini
Global coordinator
International Alliance of Inhabitants
Silvia Paoluzzi
National secretary
Tenants Union
Info:
segretaria.silviapaoluzzi@unioneinquilini.it
UN Special Rapporteurs Communication to Italy AL ITA 2-2025
(English and Italian, dated 27 February 2025)
Photo: Protest demonstration against evictions in Rome in 2022. Source: La Stampa.
