Turin's CIE - International University College of Turin

IV.
DAY-TO-DAY ISSUES
Council of Europe
Article 3 ECHR states that:
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1. LEGAL FRAMEWORK: RESPECTING HUMAN DIGNITY
“3 No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.”
Italian Legislation
Decreto Legislativo 286/1998 (Legislative Decree 286/1998), article 14.2 states:
“14.2 The foreigner is detained in the centre, in a way that guarantees the necessary
assistance and full respect of his own dignity […].” 56
Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 394/1999 (Presidential Decree 394/1999), articles 21.1-
21.2 provide:
“21.1 The manner in which the foreigner is detained must guarantee, with respect to
communal living, freedom to talk within the centre and with visitors coming from
outside, in particular with the lawyer assisting the foreigner, and with religious
personnel, freedom of correspondence and telephone communication, and fundamental
human rights, being understood that there is an absolute ban for the foreigner to leave
the centre.” 57
“21.2 Inside the centre the detained foreigners are guaranteed, besides the services
needed for their maintenance and assistance, essential health services, activities for
socialisation and freedom of worship, within the limits of the Constitution.” 58
In June 2011 the Italian Government increased the maximum period of CIE detention from six
months to eighteen months 59 . Many civil society advocates claim that this was an unintended
56 “14.2 Lo straniero è trattenuto nel centro con modalità tali da assicurare la necessaria assistenza ed il pieno
rispetto della sua dignità [...].”
57 “21.1 Le modalità del trattenimento devono garantire, nel rispetto del regolare svolgimento della vita in
comune, la libertà di colloquio all'interno del centro e con visitatori provenienti dall'esterno, in particolare con
il difensore che assiste lo straniero, e con i ministri di culto, la libertà di corrispondenza, anche telefonica, ed i
diritti fondamentali della persona, fermo restando l'assoluto divieto per lo straniero di allontanarsi dal centro.”
Articles 22.5 and 22.6 of Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 394/1999 go on to explain the exceptions to
the ban on detainees leaving CIE. Article 22.5 of this law provides for an exception where a detainee is
accompanied by police in order to go to the hospital, their embassy or the judge. Article 22.6 states that a judge
can authorise an exception where a member of the family who is resident in Italy is at risk of dying or where
there are other exceptional circumstances.
58 “21.2 Nell'ambito del centro sono assicurati, oltre ai servizi occorrenti per il mantenimento e l'assistenza
degli stranieri trattenuti o ospitati, i servizi sanitari essenziali, gli interventi di socializzazione e la libertà del
culto, nei limiti previsti dalla Costituzione.” Articles 22.5 and 22.6 of Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica
394/1999 go on to explain the exceptions to the ban on detainees leaving CIE. Article 22.5 of this law provides
for an exception where a detainee is accompanied by police in order to go to the hospital, their embassy or the
judge. Article 22.6 states that a judge can authorise an exception where a member of the family who is resident
in Italy is at risk of dying or where there are other exceptional circumstances.
59 Article 3.3 of Decreto Legge 23 giugno 2011, n. 89 “Disposizioni urgenti per il completamento
dell'attuazione della direttiva 2004/38/CE sulla libera circolazione dei cittadini comunitari e per il recepimento
della direttiva 2008/115/CE sul rimpatrio dei cittadini di Paesi terzi irregolari” (GU n. 144 del 23-6-2011).