Indicator history

An equality body has been created only with regard to race and ethnic origin, named Ufficio Nazionale Antidiscriminazioni Razziali (UNAR). It was established within the Department for Rights and Equal Opportunities in 2003, in response to the European Directive 2000/43/CE, so it is not an autonomous body. UNAR’s role is to promote equality of treatment, monitor the effectiveness of legal instruments that tackle racial discrimination and, eliminate it. UNAR recognises the different impacts discrimination can have on women and their experience of cultural and religious discrimination. UNAR’s work is mandated through the Council of Ministers’ Legislative Decree 215/2003, Article 7. UNAR is

According to its founding act, the competences of the office include providing independent assistance to victims of discrimination in pursuing their complaints, carrying out independent surveys on discriminations, promoting the adoption of specific measures aimed at eliminating or compensating the disadvantages related to a certain race or ethnic origin, issuing of opinions and proposing legislative reforms concerning racial and ethnic discrimination, issuing recommendations on matters related to racial and ethnic discrimination and diffusion of information concerning the rules on equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin. The office has two different units, one primarily oriented toward legal assistance and dispute resolution and the other toward study, and research. It reports every year to the parliament and to the executive. The office has been operational since November 2004.

Source:

European Network of Legal Experts in the Non-Discrimination Field – Italy – Equality Bodies - http://www.non-discrimination.net/content/equality-bodies-12 (Date of access: 2.12.2011)