Migration and Disability in the Italian Reception and Integration System through an Intersectionality lens

Extrapolating from the World Health Organisation’s estimate, according to which persons with disabilities account for 15% of the world’s population, and the United Nations statistics, it is estimated that in 2020, there were approximately 42 million persons living with disability among 281 million international migrants. The CRPD recognises that persons with disabilities are at greater risk of abuse and denial of their basic Human Rights, hence, they are doubly disadvantaged when placed in situations of humanitarian emergencies. Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants with disabilities are one of the most neglected populations, whose difficulties experienced during the displacement process are often incorporated within statistics calibrated on one or other dimension: disability or migration. The intersection of these two areas, along with age, gender and ethnicity involves higher risks of being exposed to varied discriminations and violence. The additional social and architectural barriers, and the shortcomings of targeted policies may complicate the path to inclusion in the host country. The leitmotiv of this research is to explore the double dimension “migrant-disabled” and its intersectionality with several factors and difficulties, which may lead to multiple forms of abuse and in some cases, to a multiplication of the disability status, that migrants with physical and/or mental disabilities may experience during an emergency or while in displacement. In this context, the work highlights the numerous deficiencies of transit countries, and also of the countries of final destination, that affect the exercise of Human Rights of migrants with disabilities. The study will sketch a portrait of the legal framework concerning the fundamental rights of migrants and persons with disabilities in Italy, through a multilevel analysis by crossing the International Conventions, the European and Italian legislation. Finally, an online questionnaire was conducted, with the purpose of gathering more information about the current situation in Italy, concerning migration and disability. In addition, the online survey has provided evidence of the challenges identified, through literature review and legal analysis, in the Italian Reception System.