Italy: Information on what rights the government of Italy would grant to a citizen of Iraq recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ITA23597.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Italy: Information on what rights the government of Italy would grant to a citizen of Iraq recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 1 May 1996, ITA23597.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab2c78.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A letter from the Deputy Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ottawa states:
Since Italy has its own refugee status determination procedure, it alone has the authority to recognize citizens of Iraq as refugees. The UNHCR therefore does not recognize such refugees in Italy under its mandate. It plays only a consultative role, expressing its point of view and providing country of origin information and training to those involved in the status determination procedure.
Asylum-seekers are given a sojourn permit valid for 2 months (renewable). Asylum seekers are not authorized to work, but irregular work is widely tolerated. In April 93 the Italian authorities extended authorization to work to the conflict victims from former Yugoslavia staying in Italy.
Convention refugees in Italy generally enjoy the full set of rights and benefits foreseen by the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. The government of Italy does not discriminate between Convention Refugees from different countries when applying refugee policies and/or implementing refugee programs. Convention refugees are issued a sojourn permit normally valid for two years and renewable without any particular conditions. They enjoy the same economic, social and cultural rights as nationals, except that they are excluded from State employment for which Italian citizenship is required (24 Apr. 1996).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Deputy Representative, Ottawa. 24 April 1996. Letter faxed to the DIRB.
