Discrimination

Discrimination is the behaviour of a person who treats differently, unfairly or excludes another person based on their skin color, origin, gender, sexual orientation, political views or religion.

In Italy there are laws that prohibit discrimination and all people have the right not to be discriminated against. Despite this, acts of discrimination continue to happen.

Examples of discrimination

Italian law states that discriminatory acts are those committed by:

• A public officer (such as a member of the police) who treats differently a person with foreign origin just because he comes from another country or belongs to a specific race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation
• Anyone offering disadvantageous services or different conditions to a person with foreign origin just because he comes from a another country or belongs to a specific race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation
• Anyone who does not give a job, housing, the opportunity to go to school or the opportunity to use social services to a person with foreign origin just because he comes from a another country or belongs to a specific race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation
• Anyone who prevents or creates problems for a foreign citizen’s business simply because he comes from a another country or belongs to a specific race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation
• An employer who treats a foreign employee differently from other employees just because he comes from another country or belongs to a specific race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

What can i do if i am a victim of discrimination?

If you have suffered discrimination, you can report the fact and the person (or company or office) who discriminated against you. To do this, it is better to ask for help from organisations or associations that defend the rights of immigrants. They will be able to advise you on the actions to take. Three of the main organisations dealing with discrimination are:

• The Ufficio Nazionale Antidiscriminazione Razziale (UNAR) is a unit founded by the Italian government to defend the right of all people not to be discriminated against. You can report a case of discrimination through their website or call 800 90 10 10 to speak to an operator. Here is a video tutorial that explains you how to report a case.
•  The Associazione per gli Studi Giuridici sull’Immigrazione (ASGI) Servizio Antidiscriminazione, which offers legal aid to immigrants who are victims of discrimination. To contact ASGI call +39 351 55 42 008 or write an email to antidiscriminazione@asgi.it.
• The Arcigay, the main LGBTQI association that promotes and defends the rights of LGBTQI people. You can go to the office closest to you for help. Here is the list of their headquarters.