Overview

There were new reports of torture by prison officers. Violence against women continued at an alarmingly high level. Racialized and LGBTI people continued to experience racism and discrimination, including by state officials. Italy attempted to send asylum seekers rescued at sea to Albania, to have their claim examined outside of the country. Police used excessive and unnecessary force against protesters on multiple occasions and limited people’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly. About 10% of the population lived in absolute poverty. Barriers to abortion persisted. Human-induced climate change caused an extreme heatwave in July.