Italian political groups urge opposition to ENOC withdrawal

Representatives from Sinistra Italiana – AVS and Unione Giovani Sinistra (UGS) in Calabria are calling on the regional Ombudsman for Children and Adolescents to formally oppose Italy’s withdrawal from the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC).

The decision to leave the network follows the refusal of the national Ombudsman, Marina Terragni, to publish a dissent regarding the network’s annual report on the rights of LGBTQIA+ minors. Critics argue that exiting the ENOC isolates Italy and weakens the ability of independent authorities to cooperate on combating discrimination, violence, and educational poverty.

Political representatives, including MP Marco Grimaldi, have expressed concern that the decision risks turning a guarantee authority into a tool for ideological crusades rather than a universal protector of children's rights. They emphasize that leaving the network could specifically undermine protections for vulnerable minors, including those in the LGBTQIA+ community who face higher risks of bullying and exclusion.