Italian municipalities urged to create a detainee‑rights guarantor

At a meeting of the Association of Sicilian Municipalities in Palermo, Mario Emanuele Alvano, secretary‑general of ANCI Sicilia, called on mayors to institute a municipal "Garante dei detenuti". He argued that, although not mandatory, the role is strategically important for linking prisoners – who remain citizens – with health, social services and families, helping prevent difficulties in social reintegration after release.

In Rome, Barbara Funari, assessor for Social Policies and Health, highlighted the broader social, health and democratic dimensions of the prison system. Citing the latest annual report of the Garante for the rights of people deprived of liberty, she noted 5,028 critical incidents, roughly 1,000 complaints of inhumane treatment, and a rise in detainees with economic fragilities, mental‑health issues and addictions. Funari urged much larger investment in care and prevention to address these structural problems, positioning the proposed municipal guarantor as a key element of that reform.

Both officials stress that improving prisoners’ rights and conditions requires coordinated local action and stronger social‑service integration.