UN expert to probe into violence against women in Italy

The United Nations Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo will visit Italy from 15 to 26 January 2012 to gather information on the issue of violence against women in the country. This will be the first visit to Italy by an independent expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor violence against women, its causes and consequences. "Violence against women remains a grave and persistent problem in the world today," said Manjoo, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Government, in a press release. "This mission provides me with a unique opportunity to discuss and report on the impact of policies and programmes adopted by Italy to fight the problem." She added. The Special Rapporteur's mandate on violence against women, its causes and consequences includes violence in the family, violence within the community, violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, and violence in the transnational sphere, including violence against refugee, asylum seeking and migrant women. The Special Rapporteur will travel to Rome, Milan, Bologna and Naples where she will hold discussions with government authorities and representatives of civil society. Among her areas of focus will be issues relating to violence against migrant women including Roma and Sinti women. The Special Rapporteur will also visit shelters and detention centers, and will meet with individual victims of gender-based violence. Based on the information obtained during the visit, Manjoo will present a report with her final findings and recommendations to the 20th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2012.