Author
According to the Procedure Decree, upon submission of an asylum application, police authorities have to inform applicants through a written brochure about their rights and obligations and the relevant timeframes applicable during asylum procedures (see Provision of Information on the Procedure).[1] The brochure also includes information on health services and on the reception system, and on the modalities to access these services. In addition, it contains the contact details of UNHCR and other specialised refugee-assisting NGOs. The Reception Decree contains a provision on the right to information, confirming the obligation to hand over the brochure, as stated above, and states that this information is provided in reception centres within 15 days from the presentation of the asylum application. This information is ensured through the assistance of an interpreter.[2]
This provision, unlike Article 5 of the recast Reception Conditions Directive, does not explicitly foresee that information shall be provided orally.
However, in practice the distribution of these leaflets, written in 10 languages,[3] is actually quite rare at the Questure. Although the law does not foresee it, the information is orally provided by police officers but not in a systematic way mainly due to the shortage of professional interpreters and linguistic mediators. The gaps in providing information is of concern to NGOs as it is considered necessary that asylum seekers receive information orally, taking into consideration their habits, cultural backgrounds and level of education which may constitute obstacles in effectively understanding the contents of the leaflets.
Upon arrival in the reception centres, asylum seekers are informed on the benefits and level of material reception conditions. Depending of the type of centre and the rules adopted by the managers of the reception centres, asylum seekers may benefit from proper information of the asylum procedure, access to the labour market or any other information on their integration rights and opportunities. Generally speaking, leaflets are distributed in the accommodation centres and asylum seekers are informed orally through the assistance of interpreters.
[1] Article 10(1) Procedure Decree.
[2] Article 3 Reception Decree and Article 10 PD 21/2015.
[3] Italian, English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Kurdish, Amharic, Farsi and Tigrinya.