Poorest of all: a case study of Roma children in Italy

Following the economic crisis in 2008, poverty increased in Italy, drastically reducing the purchasing power of Italian families. In addition to the social groups that were traditionally at risk, some categories of the population that previously considered themselves to be safe were also affected, unable to satisfy their own primary needs. The economic crisis has particularly affected families with children and adolescents. This text presents data on child poverty in Italy, related to the family and the territory. The rate of socio-economic development differs between the North and Centre of Italy and the South, causing structural differences in the living conditions of the resident population: in terms of child poverty, Italy is a country divided in two parts. As regards social policies, Italy has never had a systematic and organized plan to fight poverty. Only last year, the Italian Government introduced ‘Citizenship Income’, an instrument already active in other European countries. The social groups living in extreme poverty in Italy include Roma children. The conditions of children living in "camps" are extremely difficult. Most of their rights are systematically and institutionally violated, and the consequences of poverty affect many dimensions of their lives.

il testo presenta una disamina dei dati sulla povertà in Italia e le variabili implicate, considerando in particolare la povertà delle famiglie con figli minori. Alcuni gruppi sociali, più di altri, soffrono situazioni di grave marginalità e povertà. Fra questi le comunità rom e sinte che vivono ancora in situazioni precarie nei campi (autorizzati o irregolari). Molti dei diritti dei bambini sono sistematicamente e istituzionalmente violati e la conseguenza della povertà è evidente in diverse dimensioni della loro vita.