Among the reasons for the downgrade: approval of the Security Bill and the Paragon case
Italy has been officially downgraded to a country with "obstructed civic space" in the new Civicus Monitor annual report. An assessment that confirms the structural deterioration of democratic freedoms and places our country among those where civic space is significantly restricted, at the same level as Orban's Hungary.
The Civicus Monitor uses a methodology based on the collection and analysis of data from multiple sources, including civil society organisations, human rights observatories, independent monitoring platforms and legal analysis, assessing the respect for the freedoms of expression, demonstration and association. The 'obstructed' rating indicates that these freedoms are subject to recurrent violations, intimidation, arbitrary restrictions and distorted use of regulatory instruments.
While civil society's commitment to the protection of fundamental rights is growing, Italian decision makers are closing any space for democratic dialogue, showing disinterest in confrontation and an increasing propensity to silence critical voices. In Italy, the deterioration of civic space has been accelerated by the approval of the Security Decree, which introduces harsher punishments and repressive instruments against peaceful dissent and in general on the exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly and association, in violation of the principles of legality, equality and non-discrimination.
Added to this is the use of Graphite spyware, produced by Paragon Solutions, used for illegal surveillance activities against journalists and activists, demonstrating an increasing undermining of the right to criticism and free information.
All this is part of a general framework of criminalisation of protest that has mainly affected climate and environmental activism, NGOs engaged in the rescue of migrants at sea, and activists of movements in defence of the Palestinian people.
A framework in which freedom of the press and the autonomy of the judiciary are called into question, with journalists suffering reckless actions and trials for their work, while government exponents are the protagonists of veritable smear campaigns against the judiciary, accusing judges of political bias and collusion with non-governmental organisations.
This is not an isolated case. France and Germany have also been downgraded, a sign of a generalised retreat of civic space in Europe. The intensification of the climate of war and the increasing militarisation of public policies are progressively shrinking democratic spaces, with citizens increasingly excluded from decision-making processes. In this context, security is often used as an argument to limit freedoms and fundamental rights, fuelling repressive dynamics.
We appeal to all political forces to stop this authoritarian drift and reaffirm the central role of dissent and freedom of the press in the protection of democracy as provided for in our Constitution. The defence of civic space is an essential condition to guarantee pluralism, social justice and the protection of human rights.
On 19 December at 11.30 a.m., the results of the monitoring and the initiatives to protect civic space taken by the Network in Defence Di and civil society organisations will be presented at a press conference in the Chamber of Deputies.
IN DEFENCE OF
NETWORK NO DL Security
Amnesty International Italy
ARCI
South
Cnca - National Coordination of Welcoming Communities
COSPE
A Bridge For
Global Movement to Gaza
Greenpeace Italy
Balkans Caucasus Transeuropa Observatory (OBCT)
Terra Nuova Centre for Solidarity and Cooperation among Peoples
National Association of Democratic Jurists
Yaku Odv
Esquiline Civic Pole
Article 21
Legal Team Italy
AOI - Association of Italian Organisations for International Cooperation and Solidarity
Last Generation
ASGI
For the Climate Out of the Fossil
Human Rights International Corner
29/11/2025 - Launch of the International Campaign - On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the International Campaign for the Release of Marwan Barghouti and all Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli military prisons, including minors, health workers, journalists, women and persons with disabilities, gets underway on Saturday 29 November.
Italian civil society organisations, committed to the protection of human rights and respect for international law, joined the global mobilisation by setting up a National Committee to ensure coordinated action on the ground.
The campaign aims to promote public initiatives to demand:
1. the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails,
2. the release of Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti,
3. the closure of Israeli torture centres,
4. the protection of human rights and prisoners' rights,
5. compliance with the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions (1949) and international humanitarian law,
6. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to prisons and Palestinian detainees in Israel.
Associations, networks and local realities are invited to join the campaign and coordinate to promote territorial initiatives starting on 29 November and throughout the campaign period. The release of Marwan Barghouti and the Palestinian prisoners is an essential step towards a path of justice, peace and freedom.
ADHESION and INFORMATION: freemarwanitalia@proton.me | Tel. +39 3483921465
ONLINE SIGNATURE COLLECTION [Online petition open to citizens and public figures] >>
INITIAL MEMBERSHIPS: Assopacepalestina, ANPI, ANBAMED, AOI ETS Rete Associativa - Cooperazione e Solidarietà internazionale, ARCI, AVS, ATTAC, CENRI, Centro Ricerche ed elaborazione della Democrazia (CRED), Comitato per la Democrazia Costituzionale, Palestinian Communities in Italy, Il Coraggio della Pace DISARMA, Gaza Freestyle, Gaza Fuori Fuoco, Giuristi Democratici Modena, Global Movement to Gaza, MERA25 Italy, No to the Bridge, Bridges not Walls for Palestine by Pax Christi Italy, PRC, Italian Peace and Disarmament Network, No Gag Network, Trasform! Italy, Vigils against deaths at sea, Un Ponte Per.
Civil society associations take Leonardo spa and the Italian State to court and demand that the contracts signed for the sale and supply of arms to Israel be declared null and void
Rome, 20 November 2025 - On 29 September 2025, the associations AssoPacePalestina, A Buon Diritto, ATTAC Italia, ARCI, ACLI, Pax Christi, Un Ponte Per and Dott.ssa Hala Abulebdeh o Abu Lebdeh, Palestinian citizen, represented and defended by Lawyers Luca Saltalamacchia and Veronica Dini, assisted by Lawyers Michele Carducci and Antonello Ciervo, filed an appeal with the Civil Court of Rome, asking that the contracts entered into by Leonardo Spa and its subsidiaries with the State of Israel, regarding the sale and supply of weapons to the IDF, be declared null and void.
Leonardo Spa is among the largest arms manufacturers in the world and the Italian state, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance, is its majority shareholder. Israel has been responsible for serious and systematic human rights violations for decades, not only in Gaza, but throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem. Since well before 7 October 2023, the State of Israel has been carrying out a systematic military occupation and apartheid in the West Bank and Gaza, fuelled also by weapons sold by foreign partners.
The writ of summons seeks the ascertainment and consequent annulment of the contracts for the supply of armament materials entered into by the company Leonardo S.p.a., its subsidiaries or intermediaries with the State of Israel and the companies authorised by it, on the ground of persistent breach of the peremptory prohibitions imposed by the Constitution, the law, other imperative sources on the repudiation of war, supranational legislation and the findings of the competent UN bodies.
According to the complainants, the sale and supply of arms to Israel by Leonardo Spa is in conflict:
If the Civil Court in Rome recognises the nullity of the arms supply contracts, Leonardo and the Italian State will no longer be able to provide military support to Israel.
In addition, the actors call on the judiciary to prohibit the future sale of weapons and military technology to Israel, in particular those used to date in ground and air operations contrary to international law, conducted against the Palestinian population.
This initiative represents one of the first legal actions launched against a private company and an EU Member State, which are involved in arms supply and sale agreements with the State of Israel. With this lawsuit, the promoting associations are asking Leonardo Spa and the Italian state to take responsibility for the extermination and countless sufferings caused to the Palestinian population, in Gaza and beyond, by the IDF and the Israeli government.
With the colors of optimism and the voices of youth, Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, hosted the closing conference of the “Ru’yat al-Shabab” project under the title: “National Conference on Youth Participation in Peace, Security, and Countering Violent Extremism.”
Jointly organized by Un Ponte Per (UPP), Agency for Peacebuilding (AP), and the Ashur Iraqi Foundation for Relief and Development (ARD), and funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the event marked the culmination of a year-long initiative fostering dialogue, capacity building, and community engagement among Iraqi youth.
The conference gathered over 70 participants, including project graduates, government representatives, and members of civil society. The event reaffirmed the importance of empowering Iraqi youth - both men and women - in shaping pathways for dialogue and peace in a country still writing the story its recovery from conflict and extremism.
In his opening remarks, First Secretary Francesco Frisone, representative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stated: “investing in youth is investing in Iraq’s future.” He emphasized how the Ru’yat al-Shabab project embodies the spirit of cooperation between Iraq and Italy in supporting peace and civic engagement.
Giulia Ferraro, Project Manager at the Italian Agency for Peacebuilding, presented the project’s major milestones - including the training of 40 Iraqi from five governorates (Basra, Baghdad, Diyala, Nineveh, and Anbar) in dialogue facilitation, community mediation, and participatory decision-making.
Raed Mikhael Shaba, Country Director of UPP Iraq, highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting youth-led peacebuilding efforts and empowering young citizens to become catalysts for positive change.
Mohammed Qasim – Representative of Ashur Organization: "Our organization reaffirms its ongoing commitment to supporting peace and peacebuilding efforts, empowering youth to play an active role in their communities, and enabling them to become leaders of positive change while advocating for the prevention of violent extremism."
During the conference, participants presented five community awareness campaigns conducted in Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Diyala, and Anbar. Each campaign addressed themes of hate speech prevention, countering violent extremism, and promoting coexistence.
Aya Hisham Ismail from Nineveh shared: “I learned that dialogue is not just a discussion, it’s a tool for building trust among those who differ. Today, Mosul’s youth speak of shared futures, not division”
From Anbar University, Dr. Tareq Hamed Al-Fahdawi highlighted that their campaign “shifted the conversation on extremism from blame to collective responsibility,” noting that youth are now acting as agents of protection and peace. He also emphasized how the project helped activate UN Security Council Resolution 2250 in Anbar after the ISIS era, grounding youth efforts in sustainable frameworks for change.
Zaid Abbas – Coordinator of the Volunteers Program in Basra: "The project has opened wide avenues for collaboration with the local government and provided youth with a genuine platform to drive change and empowerment, particularly in areas of countering violent extremism, building peace, and serving their communities while enhancing their participation in decision-making."
Dhuha Mustafa – Coordinator of the Baghdad Volunteers Team: "Engaging youth in community and political work is key to building a peaceful society. Youth represent the true force for change and combating extremism, transforming their participation into tangible impact within their communities."
During the conference, participants also discussed pathways for the officially registration and sustainability of youth initiatives. The discussion explored how to align local youth initiatives with Iraq’s National Strategy for Preventing Violent Extremism, stressing that youth inclusion is essential for long-term sustainability.
The closing session featured interactive dialogues with leading participants from the project, including Afrah Faleh Ali from the Committee for Preventing Extremism, Sarah Abdulrazzaq Saleh from the Directorate of Youth and Sports in Basra, and Dr. Tareq from Anbar University, who shared successful examples in integrating youth in peacebuilding and fostering cultures of tolerance and cooperation.
The conference concluded with a joint statement calling for the transition from symbolic participation to meaningful youth engagement in policy-making, and for strengthened partnerships between civil society and institutions to sustain peace across Iraq.
About the organizers
Un Ponte Per
Founded in 1991, UPP is an Italian NGO supporting the Iraqi people through programs in health, education, reconstruction, peacebuilding, and social cohesion. The organization promotes youth and women’s leadership, interfaith dialogue, cultural heritage preservation, and livelihood opportunities across Iraq.
Agency for Peacebuilding
AP is a think-and-do organization bridging research and practice in peacebuilding. AP promotes inclusive and sustainable approaches to conflict transformation and social justice.
Ashur Iraqi Foundation for Relief and Development
ARD is a local NGO active in relief, development, and peacebuilding across Diyala, Babylon, Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Salah al-Din governorates, supporting community resilience and social stability.
Baghdad, Iraq - Media Department, UPP Iraq
Amman, 23 July 2025 - The "Conversation Clubs" for women and girls began in June 2025 and will continue throughout the summer, moments of training and conversation aimed at countering gender-based violence, organised by the Italian NGO Un Ponte Per (UPP) as part of the "Masahat Aamina" (Safe Spaces) project, now in its second phase and made possible by funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
The clubs aim to provide dedicated opportunities for women and girls to meet within the safe spaces created through the project, where participants can share experiences, challenges and perspectives on issues such as social inclusion, mental health, gender roles and community dynamics. The innovative programme at this stage focuses on gender-based violence facilitated by technology - a growing challenge in Jordan that disproportionately affects women and girls.
The meetings, organised in the governorates of Amman and Zarqa in northern Jordan, shed light on the different levels of acceptance and support within the community, as well as the obstacles women and girls face in expressing their concerns, particularly with regard to family expectations and social pressures. Through practical workshops, the club introduces participants to useful mobile applications and ways to protect themselves from cyber-crimes and violence. It also promotessafe access to non-stigmatising support services in case of violence through the hotline and with anti-violence workers in sheltered spaces.
The insights gathered from these sessions are essential for defining future programmes and interventions that UPP will implement in the country, and aim to support women and girls to promote a more inclusive and supportive community environment, as well as to improve their capacities for self-protection and raise community awareness on the intersection of gender-based violence, disability and specific aspects such as the use of new technologies. These interventions also aim to provide clear indications of available protection services and existing guidance pathways to accompany those reached in their pathways of emancipation and escape from violence.
The 'Masahat Aamina' project, active in Jordan since the summer of 2024, is part of a broader intervention that UPP, together with AICS, has been carrying out in the country for many years, aimed at supporting women, girls and people with disabilities in refugee and host communities.
Thanks to close cooperation with its local partners (Athar, Our Step and SIGI), Un Ponte Per continues to provide essential services and activities in the safe spaces that were built in the first phase of the project, which, between November 2024 and June 2025 reached a total of 7,208 people, including 4,558 women, 2,650 men, 793 girls, 661 children and 346 persons with disabilities. With the technical support of UPP, partners Athar and SIGI expanded and continued to provide social case management and child protection services. In addition, four hotlines for women and persons at risk are in operation.
The project plans to continue by further strengthening the basic services provided: management of detected cases of violence, psychosocial support, mental health services, maintenance of safe spaces and community-wide awareness-raising campaigns, as well as free legal assistance and economic support for the self-protection of the most vulnerable through income-generating activities.
After empowering 518 local NGOs in Iraq, UPP draws the curtain on the “Tatweer 2” project.
Media Department of the UPP – Iraq
On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Baghdad, UPP concluded its “Tatweer 2” project in the presence of representatives of civil society from across Iraq’s governorates, delegations from the Iraqi government and the NGO Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the Department of Relations with Civil Society NGOs at the Integrity Commission, the Chair of the Organizations Committee in Basra, and a delegation from the European Union Delegation to Iraq.
The closing ceremony began with a welcome address to the attendees and the playing of the national anthem. The official speeches then commenced: Mr. Raid Mikhael Shabah, Country Director of UPP in Iraq, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the role of the Tatweer project in strengthening, developing, and empowering civil society organizations across multiple humanitarian and organizational dimensions. He was followed by a speech from the EU Delegation representative in Iraq, then by the Director of the NGO Department, and afterward by Mr. Bahman Hassan, Project Manager for Tatweer, who underscored the transformative impact of the project on Iraq’s civil society landscape.
Next, grantees of the Tatweer sub-grants presented their most significant achievements. Their projects addressed a wide array of themes—including climate and environment, combating violence against women, preventing violent extremism, human rights (with particular emphasis on women and minorities), climate-related conflicts and environmental justice, peacebuilding, and other topics. Mr. Hassan then summarized Tatweer’s overall accomplishments: empowering 518 local organizations, delivering over 376 services (including training sessions, consultancy, mentoring, and workshops), distributed as follows: Fundraising training: 5 workshops, Proposal writing: 11 workshops, Strategic planning: 13 workshops, Policy-making: 7 workshops, Good governance: 10 workshops, Project management: 10 workshops, Monitoring and evaluation: 5 workshops, Field visits and mentoring: 131 services, Discussion forums: 24 sessions, Legal consultations: 77 sessions and Specialized consultations: 83 sessions
Certificates of appreciation were then awarded to all local NGOs that completed the Tatweer training program. The conference concluded with a panel discussion on the challenges facing Iraqi civil society organizations in registering social security and income tax for their employees, yielding a set of recommendations to harmonize and resolve these issues.
Representatives of the sub-grant recipients shared details of their projects:
Mr. Karzan, Director of the Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, showcased their achievements in empowering female journalists in the Kurdistan Region and their vision for a more equitable and inclusive media environment there.
Ms. Wasnaa, representing Peace & Freedom Organization, spoke about their “Ta’awun” project, which promoted peace and human rights concepts through building institutional bridges.
Mr. Sufyan, for the Youth Bridge Organization, detailed their “Resilience & Rights Protection” project in collaboration with the Nineveh Center for Minority Rights, which advanced women survivors’ protection through trainings and community activities.
Mr. Mohammed Ghanem, from the Sustainable Peace Foundation, presented the “Blue Peace” project, implemented with Tamouh and Naseej organizations, addressing climate change conflicts, focusing on tensions between Yazidi and Sunni communities in Bashiqah and Al-Fadhiliyah.
Mr. Omar Al-Alwani, on their freedom of expression project in Anbar, executed with the Tikrit Volunteer Center, encouraged human rights and free expression in Salahaddin and Anbar.
Mr. Omar, of We Are Love and Peace, described their education-based environmental improvement efforts in Anbar.
Ms. Hind Abdul Fattah, from Larsa Organization, reviewed their “Ain Al-Basra” project, tackling environmental and climate issues in Basra.
Mr. Mohammed Salem, of Southern Youth Organization, on their human rights monitoring and documentation project, which included advocacy campaigns, awareness videos, and public events promoting general human rights protection.
Mr. Mohammed Maqdad, of Ajyal Association, on their empowerment project addressing violence against women and persons with disabilities, enhancing women’s roles via livelihood and psychosocial support initiatives.
Sasa Organization, on their youth empowerment project in Baghdad, which promoted civil space engagement among youth, decision-makers, and government organization representatives.
Mr. Raed Mikhael Shabah, Country Director of UPP in Iraq, stated" From the outset, our objective has been clear: to empower local organizations and bolster civil society to become genuine agents of development, defenders of rights, and architects of peace. Today, we stand proudly acknowledging the significant strides we have made. UPP has been a pioneering force laying the foundations of Iraqi civil society since the 1990s, helping establish many of the local organizations we now see thriving and active across the country.”
He added "Through the Tatweer project, we reached dozens of local organizations in various governorates. We worked hand in hand, delivering training, networking opportunities, and guidance, opening new horizons for cooperation. Yet, true success is not measured merely by the number of workshops or reports; we believe in fostering real, positive change and creating meaningful opportunities to build a violence- and extremism-free Iraq that upholds human rights and human dignity. We see the results in our local partners today: independent, capable organizations leading initiatives, confronting challenges with confidence, and articulating their communities’ voices with clarity and courage. That is the achievement we celebrate today.”
Mr. Bahman Hasan, Tatweer Project Manager, emphasized "The importance of this project lies in its tangible, positive contributions to developing and empowering Iraqi civil society, supplying essential resources and equipment for practitioners, and offering numerous training and consultancy services across our five provincial centers.”
He stressed "The international community must continue supporting Iraqi civil society, as the changes achieved have been instrumental in transforming the country’s public policy landscape, encouraging youth, women, and civic actors to participate widely in civil society and help alleviate the challenges facing citizens and society at large.”
Dr. Thawra Youssef from Lotus Association anf the Technology Coordinator project, highlighted "Tatweer’s role in empowering local organizations and providing all organizational needs—from educational resources to continuous training, grants, and consultancy—has been vital to strengthening and sustaining civil society in Iraq.”
Mr. Qaidar Hassan, Director of Tamouh Organization, remarked "We take pride in participating in the Tatawwur program—an authentic investment in building our staff’s capacities and empowering them to effect positive community change. The intensive training, we received enhanced our skills in donor engagement and grant acquisition, enabling us to provide better services and achieve our developmental goals.”
Participants and CSO representatives affirmed the need to replicate and sustain such projects, as they have effected a qualitative shift in civil society’s history—providing real opportunities that moved it from stagnation to fragmentation, creativity, and proactive engagement with societal challenges, transforming them into contributions that foster positive change and promote a violence- and extremism-free environment.
Notably, Tatweer ll completes the first phase of the same project, implemented by UPP in partnership with Al-Mesalla Organization for Resource Development, Shaqoufian for Development and Culture, and Al-Najah Center for Training and Development, funded by the European Union. UPP is an Italian organization founded in Baghdad in 1991 to support the Iraqi people against injustice and war. It works across health, education, reconstruction, peacebuilding, and social cohesion programs—encouraging youth engagement in sports, arts, and community activities. The organization continues its work in multiple Iraqi governorates to strengthen the roles of minorities, youth, and women in peacebuilding, promote cultural heritage, livelihoods, and job creation for youth, empower activists, and enhance mental and reproductive health, as well as reconstruction efforts.
Press release
Rome, 10 April 2025 - Eighteen months of work and 23,334 people reached: the first phase of the "Masahat Aamina" (Safe Spaces) project, implemented by the Italian NGO Un Ponte Per in Jordan thanks to the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), has ended.
Launched in 2024, the intervention aimed to directly support women, girls and minors at risk or survivors of gender-based violence and exploitation, with a focus on persons with disabilities and their caregivers, both in the refugee and host communities between Amman, Irbid and Zarqa. Through the creation of sheltered spaces for social inclusion and protection, and thanks to the work of local partners "Athar", "Our Step", "Jordan Paralympic Commettee", "SIGI" and "Sayidat Al- Duleil", it was possible to reach 3.919 people with integrated case management services for violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation; the strengthening of existing basic social services - including psycho-social support, mental health, awareness-raising campaigns, free legal aid - including through the creation of safe spaces where women, girls and minors could be welcomed and protected.
The system of protection and support services was strengthened through the creation of a dedicated hotline, the handling of the most serious cases and the organisation of numerous awareness-raising campaigns. Psycho-social support was guaranteed to 464 people, and 'Social Cafés' were organised for women and girls: moments of discussion and dialogue aimed at individual and collective empowerment, attended by over 200 people. Free legal aid was also provided to 50 women and girls, and 241 people with disabilities were reached through home rehabilitation sessions and distribution of assistive devices. Fifty urgent cases were finally supported with financial support.
The work of Un Ponte Per will continue until November 2025 with the second phase of the "Masahat Aamina" intervention, thanks to the invaluable support of AICS and collaboration with local partners, with the aim of further strengthening the intervention, improving access to protection services, and making the work sustainable by strengthening the capacities of local partners.
Rome, 4 November 2024 - Flai CGIL has chosen to give concrete support to Un Ponte Per as part of the 'Water for Gaza' fundraising campaign, through which drinking water, food and hygiene kits are being distributed to Palestinian families affected by the Israeli offensive, thanks to the valuable collaboration of the local organisation Union of Agricultural Work Comittees (UAWC).
The Union of Palestinian Agricultural Work Committees is an NGO that has been active for over 30 years in Palestine, supporting Palestinian farmers, agricultural workers and fishermen, protecting land and distributing seeds.
Tomorrow, 5 November 2024, Flai and Un Ponte Per will sign an agreement that will allow the funds collected by the union thanks to the payments made by national Flai workers in the general strikes of the last two years to be allocated to Gaza.
"We are proud to be able to be at the side of the martyred Palestinian people," explains the secretary general of Flai CGIL, Giovanni Mininni, "More than forty thousand dead in one year is an intolerable reality. We want to actively promote in all areas of the organisation the spirit of militancy and solidarity necessary to build a permanent mobilisation against the war, for the implementation of a just transition that puts work, economic, environmental and social sustainability, democracy, freedom and Peace back at the centre".
"At a time of an unprecedented regional humanitarian crisis, any help can make a difference, as can forging solidarity links between European and Palestinian workers for the protection of the land," say President Giulia Torrini and Director Martina Pignatti of Un Ponte Per, "Especially since Flai's support will not be limited only to the humanitarian response to the emergency, but aims to promote initiatives of economic and technical support to small farmers and fishermen, often organised in cooperatives, to enable them to resume their activities as soon as possible once the humanitarian crisis is over. While denouncing the war crimes and serious violations of international law committed by the Israeli army, we are jointly committed to giving a horizon of hope to those in Palestine who refuse to abandon their land and surrender to despair'.
Un Ponte Per thanks Flai for being able to build together another piece of the solidarity needed by the Palestinian population, particularly in the Gaza Strip, so that they can have decent access to water and food, and protect what remains of their farmland.
Rome, 29 October 2024 - Un Ponte Per expresses dismay, concern and alarm at the approval by the Knesset - the Israeli Parliament - of two bills that ban UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and decree the closure of its Jerusalem office.
These laws will further amplify the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a catastrophe that is gradually spreading to all the occupied territories of the West Bank. This is a veritable demolition of International Law, which Israel must also abide by, and an attack on the already dramatic living conditions of the Palestinian population, which would thus be deprived of fundamental services - including the right to education of 700,000 boys and girls - by an agency that the entire international community wanted to support Palestinian refugees.
It does not escape us how the banning of UNRWA is part of the UN delegitimisation project systematically carried out by the Israeli government, with the decision to declare Secretary General Gutierrez "persona non grata", or to disregard the rulings and decisions of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, to the decision to open fire, repeatedly and deliberately, against the structures and personnel of the UNIFIL mission's Blue Helmets in Lebanon.
The population of Gaza is dying under the bombs, but also from hunger, thirst and curable diseases due to the deprivation of basic medicines. In Gaza, as in all occupied Palestinian territories, winter is coming, and a large part of the population has no possibility of safe shelter and refreshment.
We make an urgent appeal to the Italian and EU governments to act on the Israeli authorities to demand the revocation of UNRWA's ban also through the adoption of effective sanctions and the suspension, applying Article 2 of the Treaty, of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
We call on the public to continue to support the Palestinian and Lebanese population also through our two solidarity campaigns: 'Water for Gaza' and 'Lebanon Emergency'.We call on the international peace and solidarity movement to continue and strengthen the mobilisation against war and genocide and for an immediate ceasefire.
A regulation that violates fundamental human rights by using repressive instruments. Together with the network In Difesa Di, Un Ponte Per stands alongside those who defend human and environmental rights around the world, expressing their opposition to DDL 1660
A healthy society must also be able to express itself through forms of dissent and peaceful protest, particularly of those who, like environmentalists and conservationists, fight for climate and therefore social justice in the world
Bill 1660, approved on 18 September in the Chamber of Deputies, is in the groove of repressive pan-penalism that has characterised the institutions' response to protest, dissent and unease for many years.
This tendency has characterised successive governments and parliamentary majorities at least since 2001, with the recurrent adoption of 'security packages' that introduced new crimes and aggravating circumstances - or new parapenal sanctioning systems, such as the DASPO - and increased penalties for those already provided for (in March 2001 Giuliano Amato was Prime Minister and Enzo Bianco was Interior Minister, but other 'packages' are remembered for the names of the ministers of the time, from Maroni to Veltroni, from Minniti to Salvini).
DDL 1660 is characterised, however, by a considerable 'quantum leap' in the repressive clampdown and in the construction of what we could call a true 'criminal law (and not only) of the enemy', and also in redesigning certain institutions by profoundly changing their nature.
Thus, there are regulations that raise the penalties for the crime of occupation by also introducing new offences (failure to leave the rented property after an eviction procedure will also be a criminal offence), that allow for the imprisonment of pregnant women and women with newborn babies (in provisions that have been significantly christened the 'anti-Roma women rule'), che introducono il reato di “detenzione di materiale con finalità di terrorismo” (per cui sarà reato il semplice possesso di materiale, al di là del concreto pericolo che il soggetto intenda porre in essere attività terrorista, così anticipando la soglia di punibilità sino al limite della sfera esclusivamente privata della persona), che introducono nuove ipotesi di Daspo disposto dal questore o di cd. "These regulations introduce new cases of Daspo ordered by the police commissioner or the so-called 'Daspo giudiziario' (imposing a ban on access to certain places for those convicted of certain offences and making the granting of a suspended sentence conditional on compliance with this ban), which establish the obligation for foreign citizens to show their residence permit in order to be able to activate a mobile phone (a rule aimed at preventing irregular migrants from being able to have a mobile phone, thus making them 'scorched earth'), which increase the possibility of revoking the Italian citizenship acquired by foreign citizens, which increase the penalties for the crime of begging.
In addition to these regulations, there are also some that intend to severely repress protests and reduce the spaces for the possible expression of dissent, hitting even (and in some cases specifically) the environmentalist movements, and others that tend to demolish years of democratic conquests (in total institutions and in the relations between authorities and citizens), in fact attempting to 'turn back the hands of history' eighty years.
In this last regard, one cannot fail to refer to the 'new' crime of prison and CPR riots (but also in hot spots and reception centres for migrants, thus not only in places of detention and deprivation of liberty), which is intended to punish (with penalties ranging from a minimum of one to a maximum of twenty years, depending on the hypothesis) not only (undefined) violent riots, but also acts of resistance, even passive resistance to the execution of orders given, which prevent the performance of acts of office or service: a 'new' model of detainee (but not only, also of migrant received in a centre) is designed that is completely depersonalised, deprived even of the right to use non-violent and peaceful methods of protest and from whom 'blind and absolute' obedience to orders is expected.
The detained person and the migrant person (detained or received) are to be docile objects of control, on pain of perpetuating their condition of persons deprived of their personal freedom (the crime of prison riot would also be included among the so-called offences obstructing alternative measures to prison). This 'first time' in the repression of passive resistance risks becoming a precedent that will allow, in the future, the punishment of any form of disobedience to any order and in any sphere (just as the Daspo, born in stadiums to repress ultras, was then extended to urban areas and is now an instrument of administrative repression - the violation of which, moreover, makes the person concerned fall into the penal system - good for all forms of unease and/or dissent).
Another blatant example of this involution is the (unconcealed) desire to redesign the relationship between the 'public security' forces and the people subject to them, moving away from what the Constitutional Court defined as a 'different discipline of the relations between citizen and authority in liberal-democratic systems and in totalitarian regimes respectively' that had characterised the post-Fascist republican normative production (the Court had used that definition with regard to the discriminating factor of reaction to arbitrary acts of the public official, whereby the citizen who reacts, even with violence, to an illegitimate and arbitrary act of the public official is not punishable).
In the sense of consolidating an even formal supremacy of the public security apparatus over the people go: the introduction of an aggravating circumstance for offences of violence and resistance to a public official when the acts are committed against a public safety agent or officer (thus resistance to a police officer could be punished much more severely than to a municipal employee, a hospital doctor, even a judge) the provision of an increase in the penalty for the offence of injury if caused to a public security officer (thus, also in this case, the 'supremacy' of the victim-agent over any other victim is enshrined); the provision that public security officers may carry weapons without a licence even when off duty; the coverage of the expenses for a trusted lawyer (up to 10.000 for each level of judgement) for public security officers (as well as fire fighters and military personnel) investigated or charged for acts inherent to their service (subject, indeed, to possible recourse if ultimately convicted of intentional wrongdoing; there would be no recourse, for example, in the case of manslaughter of an arrested person). The public security forces, therefore, are placed normatively (one might say ideologically) in a position of supremacy over the entire population and of pre-eminence even within the State apparatus.
The Bill contains, then, a long series of provisions specifically intended to repress dissent, often blatantly designed on a 'specific' subject evidently considered to be particularly to be repressed: a veritable construction of a special author's sanction law (in which the seriousness of the crime, and sometimes the very existence of a crime, depends not so much on the 'fact' that has been committed as on the 'type of author' who committed it).
Already with the so-called 'ecovandals' decree, moreover, this legislature had accustomed us to the construction of offences on environmental activists and on their modes of protest (think of the aggravating circumstance provided for the crime of defacement if committed on 'showcases, cases and other structures used for the display, protection and preservation of cultural goods exhibited in museums, picture galleries, galleries and other exhibition places of the State, regions, other territorial public bodies, as well as any other public body and institution'; it is clear that certain protests and activists were specifically targeted).
Among the provisions specifically aimed at the repression of dissent (and of environmental activists in primis) stands out the aggravating circumstance (and therefore the provision that the penalty is increased, with a maximum that can reach 20 years) for the crimes of resistance and violence to a public official (but also other crimes, such as threats) in the case in which the act 'is committed in order to prevent the realisation of a public work or a strategic infrastructure'. Here the will to hit harder at movements fighting against large-scale works (such as the No Tav movement, the No Tap movement, the No Ponte movement, to name but a few) is very clear.
Again, an aggravated penalty is introduced for damage committed during demonstrations (a hypothesis that had already been introduced in 2019) if committed with violence or a threat (here too, it is clear that this rule is aimed at repressing dissent and conflict, it being sufficient that the damage is accompanied by simple threatening conduct).
In the same way, an aggravating circumstance (with a consequent aggravation of punishment) is provided for the offence of defacement if committed on property used for the exercise of public functions with the purpose of damaging the honour, prestige or decorum of the institution (certain symbolic protests come to mind, such as the placing of piles of manure at institutional premises).
The provisions of DDL 1660 currently under discussion, therefore, seem to want to design a new set-up in the relations between the executive power (whose ultimate expression is precisely the public security forces) and the population, and to strike at any form of dissent, reducing the citizen (we want to use this term in a technical sense, not as an Italian citizen but as a person who is subject to that sovereign power) to a docile object of control, in a society that would like to be plebiscitary. Whoever rebels (today especially in prisons or in CPRs, but with a model that can be extended to anyone), whoever even merely protests (perhaps claiming the right to a healthy environment and ultimately to a future) is a subject alien to the model of society that must be punished.
It is a model of society that is extremely dangerous and alien to constitutional principles; this is why the In Difesa Di network, which since 2016 has been gathering and organising organisations and associations committed in Italy and around the world to defending human and environmental rights, believes that if the bill is definitively approved, many of its provisions will then probably be declared unconstitutional; but in the meantime it will have made the political and cultural evils that nourish them germinate in society (in addition to having affected the people who will have been its victims in the meantime).
Joint communiqué of the In Defence Of network
with Ultima Generazione, Extinction Rebellion, Legal
Team Italy, Repression Observatory, Democratic Jurists
