Dear Minister, Dear Prefect, Dear Mayor

I am calling on you to uphold the human rights of thousands of Roma men, women and children living in Italy, and in particular to realize the housing rights of Roma people in Rome.

I am particularly worried by the damaging effects of the “Nomad Plan”, as it is only driving Roma people deeper into poverty and marginalization. Based on the preconceived assumption that all Roma are nomads, the plan condemns them to a cycle of forced evictions, disrupting children’s frequency at school and destroying any chance of integration and social inclusion. Segregation in degraded and overcrowded settlements cannot be offered as a solution, whereas in fact, it is the actual problem.

You must also have been saddened and outraged by the tragic events on the night of 6 February, when four children – Raul Mircea, Fernando, Patrizia and Sebastian – died in a fire after embers fell from a brazier causing the makeshift shack they were sleeping in to catch fire. I learned that the children had been evicted from another settlement about one year before, without being offered any alternative accommodation. It seems likely to me that, had their family's right to adequate housing been fulfilled at the time, the deaths of these four children could have been avoided.

I am therefore asking you to bring human rights at the core of any discussion about Roma children, men and women in Italy, and to address the housing situation of these communities as a matter of urgency to prevent that similar tragedies happen again in the future.

In particular, I urge you to:

- Immediately put the “Nomad Plan” on hold and take steps to review it in consultation with those affected;
- Ensure that a revised plan provides adequate housing solutions for all those affected in line with international human rights law and not perpetuating segregation;
- Immediately stop all forced evictions, and ensure that evictions are carried out only as a last resort, and in full compliance with the guarantees required under regional and international human rights standards, including genuine consultation and the provision of adequate alternative housing.

Many thanks for your consideration,