The Italian newspapers, radio and TV channels are censuring the humanitarian intervention of Navi Pillay, while the authorities, instead of listening to what she had to say and paying more attention to human rights, have lashed out at the High Commissioner. The spokesman for the Italian institutions claimed Mrs. Pillay’s criticism of Italy’s xenophobic policies were “unacceptable”.
“For a moment I thought I was in one of the poorest developing countries and not in one of the richest nations in the world,” said Pillay, who is South African. “Transferring Roma people from illegal camps to official ones is not an adequate solution because they remain isolated from the rest of the population and have very little opportunity to find work and improve their situation,” she said.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who accuses the left of wanting an “invasion of foreigners”, has said he rejects the vision of a multi-cultural Italy. He made a tough line on immigration a key policy pledge ahead of the 2008 election. Since coming to power the government has been criticised by rights groups for policies such as making illegal entry and stay a criminal offence and repelling vessels carrying migrants heading towards Italy. This month thousands of foreign workers marched and released yellow balloons into the sky in Italy’s first “immigrant strike”, aimed at underscoring their importance in the economy and protesting against government policies. Many Italians associate Roma, in particular, with crime and begging. Last year the European Council’s high commissioner for human rights said Roma and Sinti people in Italy were subject to “a persistent climate of intolerance”.
In the photograph, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay
