(21 Oct 2017) Some 2,000 of demonstrators rallied in Rome on Saturday, taking to the streets of the historic centre to protest against racism and show solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers.
Immigrants holding banners reading "no man is illegal" marched alongside students and workers demanding equality in Italy and accusing the government of making controversial deals to trap vulnerable migrants in North Africa to prevent them from coming to Europe.
The rally was arranged by a number of organisations including trade unions, leftist parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International, Emergency and Doctors Without Borders.
After struggling for years with large numbers of migrants arriving on its shores, Italy managed to reduce the numbers in the last few months by sending naval units to Libya's coast to help the local coast guard while making deals with Libyan militias to prevent migrants from leaving.
Aid workers, however, say a humanitarian catastrophe is brewing in Libya as migrants get trapped there in detention centres where they are mistreated.
The government has also drawn criticism for changing the asylum process, effectively speeding it up, but reducing the chances for would-be refugees to appeal failed requests.
The country is also divided over a proposal to change the law to allow the Italian-born children of immigrants to have citizenship under certain conditions rather than waiting until they are 18.
The move could see some 800,000 children be granted citizenship, but has been challenged by anti-immigration parties on the right of the political spectrum, who say it would encourage more migrants to head to Italy.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 180,000 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea so far in 2016.
Rights campaigners have warned of a growing intolerance to migrants over the past few years, with some accusing the government of trying to cut arrival numbers by making life hard for rescuers.
NGOs carrying out search and rescue operations at sea this summer were forced to sign a code of conduct which they said hampered their efforts to save lives in the Mediterranean.

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