Awareness of rights means protecting rights
On 28 January 2025, the seminar “Protecting fundamental rights in Italy. Strategies to resist and counter discriminations” took place, organized by Fondazione “Giacomo Brodolini” (FGB), in the context of the FAIR project, coordinated by FGB and involving nine EU Member States.
The seminar represented the first public event of the two-year project, and it was also the opportunity to discuss the state of the art of fundamental rights in Italy and possible strategies to counter discriminations. The event also allowed FGB to present to the speakers and the participants the preliminary results of the research phase of the project which started in March 2024. During this phase – thanks to desk research, an online survey and two focus groups conducted in the nine FAIR countries – FAIR partners implemented the mapping of the main gaps and barriers in the protection of fundamental rights and assessed the level of awareness and knowledge of fundamental rights and of the EU Charter, a pivotal instrument to reinforce and disseminate.
Several speakers participated in the seminar: a thorough overview of practical experiences that allowed to outline the strategies to counter discriminations in diverse fields of social life. The keynote speaker was Alessandra Algostino – full professor of constitutional law at the University of Turin – who analysed the state of the art of the rule of law in Italy, focusing on possible challenges to political rights, social rights and civil freedoms. The other contributions were offered by key actors of civil society and professionals engaged in the protection of fundamental rights and in countering discriminations. The protection of the rights of migrants and asylum applicants was the core of the intervention of the Immigration and Citizenship Legal Clinic of the University “Roma 3”, represented by Ph.D. Carlo Caprioglio. The lawyer Giulia Sala – member of “Rete Lenford” – reported about the association’s activities to tackle discriminations targeting LGBTQIA+ persons and fostering the democratic participation of sexual and gender minorities, analysing the case of the 2024 European elections. Amnesty Italia retraced the main current challenges to civic space and to the right to peaceful protest, analysing the criminal instruments in place that might compromise democratic participation and the expression of dissent that – as recalled by Professor Algostino – is the cornerstone of democracies. The lawyer Marino Fardelli – regional Ombudsman of the Lazio region and National Coordinator of Regional Ombudspersons – highlighted the crucial role of Ombudspersons in protecting fundamental rights and pointed out the main reasons for the persisting lack of a national Ombudsperson in Italy. Lawyer Ivonne Panfilo provided a thorough analysis of the civil and criminal instruments in place to fight domestic and gender-based violence, stressing the persistence of a patriarchal culture in the institutional approach to this type of violence which may result in the secondary victimisation of survivors, which is totally in breach of the Istanbul Convention. Eventually, Elisa Marino reported on the activities of the “Federazione italiana per il superamento dell’handicap – FISH” to counter discriminations on grounds of disabilities, stressing the importance of replacing the traditional medical approach to disabilities with a social one, which is needed to identify and overcome physical and social barriers impeding the democratic participation and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The relevant contributions of the speakers highlighted the necessity to reinforce the protection of fundamental rights, by developing more efficient and systematic instruments, investing in awareness-raising activities and fostering a more intense use of the protection instruments in place. An increased synergy and cooperation between civil society organisations, professionals and public authorities would also be key.
FAIR activities will continue during 2025 with communication campaigns, focus groups, round tables and workshops. These activities will contribute to the priorities identified during the seminar, directly engaging civil society, NGOs, professionals, human rights defenders and authorities and addressing the gaps that limit the visibility and use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as an instrument to better protect rights and freedoms.