Presumption of minority must be maintained

The principle of the presumption of minority forunaccompanied minors arriving in Italy must continue to beapplied, the Ombudsman for Childhood and Adolescence CarlaGarlatti said on Wednesday.
   "It must not be and cannot be touched," said Garlatti during herpresentation to parliament of her office's 2022 report.
   "It is unthinkable and unacceptable that in the event of doubtit should be the minor that has to prove to be such," she added.
   Garlatti's comments came after it emerged on Tuesday thatmigrants convicted of misrepresenting their true age are to beexpelled under the terms of a new draft security decree set tocome before the cabinet on Wednesday.
   The government of right-wing Premier Giorgia Meloni has saidrecently it wants to clamp down on unaccompanied migrants andrefugees who falsely claim they are minors in order to benefitfrom the special protection regime Italy offers to minorsarriving on its territory without a parent or legal guardian.
   The protection is offered under a 2017 law known as the LeggeZampa after the senator who presented it, which has been held upas a model across Europe and is based on the presumption ofminority.
   "It is difficult and expensive to obtain documents and forrefugees it is impossible," continued Garlatti.
   It is important to ensure that unaccompanied migrants andrefugees have their initial interview as soon as possible afterarriving in Italy and that a volunteer guardian is appointed"immediately", she added.
   Volunteer guardians, created under the terms of the Zampa law,are trained volunteers who provide legal representation andpractical and emotional support to unaccompanied minors duringtheir integration in Italy, as well as ensuring that theirrights are fully respected. (ANSA).