Italy

In Italy, many parents with irregular status do not register their children due to fear of deportation. In 2009, Italy made irregular immigration illegal and implemented requirements for public officials to report any migrants with irregular status. It also made it compulsory for all non-Italians to show their residence permit in order to obtain civil records. A circular memo of the Ministry of the Interior did clarify that the residence permit requirement did not apply to birth registration. However, many parents with irregular status are unaware of this exception and do not register their children at local registry offices. The CRC (2011) expressed concern at the law, and recommended that Italy undertake awareness-raising campaigns on the right of all children to be registered at birth, regardless of the residence status of parents.