DTA

Digital Theses Archive

 

Tesi etd-10162023-184032

Type of thesis
Corso Ordinario Secondo Livello
Author
ARICÒ, ROBERTA MARIA
URN
etd-10162023-184032
Title
Beyond emergency: Evaluating the influence of different residence permits on the long-term integration of trafficking survivors in Italy and Belgium
Structure
Cl. Sc. Sociali - Scienze Politiche
Course
SCIENZE POLITICHE - SCIENZE POLITICHE
Committee
Tutor Prof.ssa LORETONI, ANNA
Relatore Prof.ssa BIONDI, FRANCESCA
Presidente Prof. STRAZZARI, FRANCESCO
Membro Dott. RAINERI, LUCA
Membro Prof. BRESSANELLI, EDOARDO
Membro Prof. NATALI, DAVID
Relatore Prof.ssa CAIANI, MANUELA
Keywords
  • assistenza
  • criminalizzazione
  • integrazione
  • permesso di soggiorno
  • protezione
  • vittime di tratta
Exam session start date
28/11/2023;
Availability
parziale
Abstract
This interdisciplinary research explores the impact of distinct legal pathways for the regularisation of trafficking victims on their socio-economic integration in the host country, specifically opposing the residence permits grounded on beneficiaries’ mandatory involvement in prosecution to those issued on the sole basis of their personal circumstances. Through a comparative approach, this inquiry specifically focuses on Belgium and Italy, showing the significant normative differences that still arise across Europe despite the EU’s harmonising efforts. Notably, Belgium grants residence permits exclusively to those cooperating with prosecuting authorities, while Italy also envisages a ‘social’ channel for victims’ regularisation that is not linked to traffickers’ criminalisation. While drawing from the initial assumption that the ‘social’ path, by virtue of its inherent focus, may better facilitate the social inclusion of victims than the ‘prosecution’ channel, the analysis challenges this premise and unveils a more nuanced scenario. To do so, the investigation combines a review of normative frameworks and secondary sources with insights from twelve semi-structured interviews with anti-trafficking practitioners in Italy and Belgium. The present inquiry shows that, in Belgium, the main challenges encompass the extremely limited number of victims receiving dedicated assistance due to the conditional nature of residence papers and subsequent support measures, as well as the risk of losing their permit if there is insufficient evidence to bring the case to court. Conversely, in Italy, primary issues include the widespread non-application of the ‘social’ residence permit by many Questure across the country and the recurring trend for victims to apply for international or complementary protection statuses rather than resorting to the dedicated regularisation path under Article 18. The study also exposes difficulties in measuring the impact of different residence permits on victims’ inclusion due to non-existent follow-up mechanisms and mapping efforts in both countries, coupled with contingent challenges and structural differences characterising the contexts at stake. While Belgium demonstrates keener attention to integration policies within its broader migration governance, the very limited number of beneficiaries accessing dedicated measures hampers the overall impact of these well-intended strategies. Conversely, although Italy displays some promising medium-term results accomplished by some of the victims who benefitted from the special assistance programme, regularisation is still the priority for most of the trafficking survivors despite their long-lasting permanence within national borders. Opening for future improvements, the analysis advocates for additional academic research, renewed EU-level harmonising practices, and more comprehensive mapping efforts to assess the current situation and formulate an appropriate response. Recommendations include modifying existing legal and operational strategies or devising tailored measures to strengthen the link between dedicated regularisation channels for trafficking survivors and their long-term social inclusion. The study also calls for future enhancements to bridge current gaps in the implementation of well-intended strategies and effectively cater to a larger number of victims in both Italy and Belgium.
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