Guidelines on the care and rehabilitation of victims of torture remain largely unimplemented across much of the country. Survivors of intentional violence who live and reside in Italy often lack adequate public assistance services. This is what emerges from the report “Implementation of the Guidelines for the Care and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and Other Forms of Violence: Mapping and Analysis”, published by Doctors Without Borders in April 2022. Among migrants, asylum seekers and refugees living in our country, many have suffered torture or other inhuman and degrading treatment in their country of origin or during their journey to Europe.
Experiences that leave visible and invisible marks, at the physical and psychological level, often difficult to bring to light. The Guidelines were developed by the Ministry of Health to support the health system in their early identification and effective care through appropriate and uniform interventions throughout the country.
To date, the only regions that have formally implemented the legislation with their own provisions are Lazio, Piedmont and Tuscany, while in others – such as Sicily, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna or Lombardy – there are virtuous experiences where it is often private social organisations in collaboration with local healthcare bodies that provide these services to vulnerable migrants.
