The decision of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) on the merits in Amnesty International. v. Italy, Complaint No. 178/2019, became public on 13 May 2024.
In its complaint, Amnesty International alleged that Roma in Italy continue to suffer widespread and systematic violations of their right to housing, in particular with regard to forced evictions, segregation and substandard housing, as well as lack of access to social housing, in violation of Article E (non discrimination) read in conjunction with Articles 31§1, 31§2 and 31§3 (the right to housing) of the revised European Social Charter.
In its decision on the merits, the ECSR concluded:
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article E of the Charter read in conjunction with Article 31§2 of the Charter as regards the continuation of forced evictions particularly affecting the Roma community;
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article E of the Charter read in conjunction with Article 31§1 of the Charter concerning the segregated and sub-standard housing;
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article E of the Charter read in conjunction with Article 31§3 of the Charter concerning the lack of equal access to social housing for Roma.