A southern Italian town has granted honorary citizenship to 50 children who were born in Italy to non-European parents. The mayor hopes that a law will be passed to give citizenship to all such children, so that this kind of initiative will not be needed.
On Saturday morning, over 100 children and adolescents gathered in Palazzo De Mari of the town of Acquaviva delle Fonti to take part in a citizenship ceremony. Fifty of them were given honorary Italian citizenship based on the fact that they were born in Italy to parents holding non-European citizenship.
Several dignitaries were present, including Mayor Davide Carlucci, Puglia's regional president, Michele Emiliano, UNICEF deputy national chairman, Silvana Calaprice, and Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti bishop, Giovanni Ricchiuti. A certificate was given to each of the children's best friends as well.
Another 50 meet requirements
The initiative was called "Io Come Tu" ("Me Like You") and included 50 children accompanied by their teachers. The children are between the ages of 9 and 18 and their families originally come from Albania, China, Peru, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia and Somalia.
There are at least another 50 children aged 9 and under in Acquaviva, who meet the requirements for honorary citizenship, the organizers said, but "for them we hope that no symbolic gesture will be needed, since we are hoping that there will soon be a law making them Italians."
Puglia region 'to push for Ius Soli in next legislature'
"I am very sorry that the legislative term ended without voting on the Ius Soli law," the regional president said. "Puglia is committed to asking the next government to bring the law back to Parliament. This hall shows what the world will look like in a few years. And it will be great."
"This earth is the shared home where we all live," the bishop said. "In these days in Italy, we are hearing numerous calls against the dream of walking together. (But) we are all brethren in this extraordinary and sometimes tragic history that is humanity."
Honorary citizenship to minors born in Italy to non-European parents is an initiative that was started by UNICEF and the Acquaviva municipality about a year ago. "A population that is not able to tell everyone born here, and who arrive here, that they are our brothers, is a weak and fearful population," the mayor stressed.
"Today we want to show strength and national pride. The pride of Italians able to welcome everyone starting from our children, making up for the lack of the Ius Soli law not yet approved."