and private workplaces. The measure 1. “Massive data leak reveals Israeli NSO Group’s spyware used to sparked demonstrations in some cities. In target activists, journalists, and political leaders globally”, 18 July Rome, protests turned violent when 2. “Israel/OPT: Pattern of Israeli attacks on residential homes in Gaza hundreds of people led by the leaders of a must be investigated as war crimes”, 17 May far-right party ransacked the national 3. “Israel/OPT: Scrap plans to forcibly evict Palestinian families in headquarters of the main left-wing trade Silwan”, 25 May 4. “Israeli police targeted Palestinians with discriminatory arrests, union. torture and unlawful force”, 24 June 5. “Israel/OPT: ‘Chilling repercussions’ of travel ban on Amnesty WORKERS’ RIGHTS Health and care workers who raised campaigner must be a wake-up call for all”, 6 April 6. “Israel/OPT: Designation of Palestinian civil society groups as concerns about poor and unsafe working conditions in care homes during the Covid-19 terrorists a brazen attack on human rights”, 22 October 7. “Devices of Palestinian human rights defenders hacked with NSO pandemic were subjected to unfair Group’s Pegasus spyware”, 8 November disciplinary proceedings and feared reprisals from their employers. Instead of addressing their concerns over the use of PPE and the ITALY true number of Covid-19 cases in care homes, employers used unfair dismissals and 1 Italian Republic anti-union measures to silence them. Head of state: Sergio Mattarella In May, an employment tribunal in Milan Head of government: Mario Draghi (replaced Giuseppe ruled as unfair the dismissal of an outsourced Conte in February) worker who had reported health and safety violations in March 2020 in a private care Employers silenced health and care workers home. The court acknowledged his who raised concerns about working revelations were of public interest to prevent conditions in care homes during the deaths. Covid-19 pandemic. Older people in care RIGHT TO HEALTH homes were denied meaningful contact with the outside world. Violence against women The rights of care homes’ older residents to a persisted and obstacles to accessing private and family life continued to be abortion were not addressed. Parliament violated, with prolonged isolation causing a failed to extend protection against hate deterioration in residents’ physical and crimes to people attacked because of their mental health. Although visits by family gender, gender identity or sexual members holding a Covid-19 certificate were orientation. Migrants with an irregular allowed to resume in May, and the so-called status remained vulnerable to exploitation “green pass” legislation in September and abuses. Cooperation with Libya on recognized the right to daily visits, many migration continued, despite abuses. The private and public care homes continued to authorities continued to criminalize deny older people meaningful contacts with solidarity with refugees and migrants at the outside world. borders. Torture remained a concern. A commission of inquiry on the authorities’ BACKGROUND response to Covid-19 in care homes had not been established by the end of the year. In July, the government extended the state of VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS emergency to combat the Covid-19 pandemic until the end of the year. In Levels of violence against women remained September, it also made it obligatory to have high. A total of 102 women were killed in a “Covid-19 green pass” showing proof of domestic violence incidents, 70 of whom by vaccination, recovery from Covid-19 or a partners or ex-partners. In December, the negative test result in order to access public government approved a bill to strengthen Amnesty International Report 2021/22 211