A/HRC/14/4 8. In relation to the Roma and the Sinti, Italy acknowledged that the integration had proved more difficult for groups that have arrived over the past 10 - 15 years. The stigmatization of minorities has always been a source of concern, and the recent episodes of violence against Roma communities had been condemned by all political forces and were subject to judicial investigation. However, with regard to forced evictions of people living in unauthorized camps, Italy noted that they were sometimes necessary to ensure appropriate and legal living conditions and that, wherever possible, the persons involved were consulted in advance. 9. Regarding the treatment of migrants, Italy affirmed its full compliance of the recent legislative and administrative acts, known as the “security package” and their implementing procedures, with human rights principles and obligations. 10. Regarding the control of associations of private citizens to patrol municipalities, Italy underscored that the relevant legislation provided for the mandatory registration of such associations within each competent prefecture. 11. Over the past few years, the country had been exposed to a massive inflow of migrants, which increased by 250 per cent over the last few years, and could, in some instances, affect public order. Italy is at the forefront of efforts to rescue migrants and asylum-seekers on the high seas. It affirmed that, in cases of human trafficking, international law permitted the return of migrants to their countries of origin, unless they were in need of urgent medical assistance and had not expressed the intent to apply for asylum or other forms of international protection. 12. As for recent cases before the European Court of Human Rights relating to counterterrorism action, Italy had accorded the utmost attention to the protection of the human rights of returnees in their countries of origin, and that, as acknowledged by the Court, applicants had not suffered torture or ill-treatment in the country of destination. Recent domestic case law shows the current trend of substituting expulsion with other measures, such as the transfer to a labour house. 13. Italy noted that an area of the informal economy had emerged, in which workers, and in particular migrant workers, were not protected as they were not officially employed. New measures to counter this phenomenon had been adopted in 2009 to extend social protection to all workers, and more than 300,000 non-EU workers had now been regularized. At the same time, measures aimed at the stable integration of migrants were being envisaged with the provision of long term residence permits after a test period. 14. Italy highlighted the fact that, after an incident between migrants and the local population in the locality of Rosarno, a judicial investigation had been opened, also to determine whether the aggravating circumstances of crimes committed for the purpose of discrimination or ethnic or racial hatred could be applied. The Minister for the Interior set up an ad hoc task force to identify the most appropriate solutions for the area. In order to improve the integration of migrants, the Minister was promoting a project for the establishment of a vocational training centre for migrants, in addition to significant renovation projects. 15. The stigmatization of certain ethnic or social groups remained a matter of serious concern for the Government and local authorities, which are fully aware of the challenge faced in this field, and strongly committed to eradicate racist or xenophobic attitudes from society. The Italian legal framework contains a wide range of legal provisions to combat racism, and incitement to racial hatred is severely punishable by law. At the same time, Italy noted that the fight against racism and xenophobia was a long-term process and that legislative and judicial measures had to be complemented by efforts at all levels, particularly through the education system, which is why the Ministry of Education had developed specific educational programmes with a marked intercultural approach. Italy has 4