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77,000 Illegal Immigrants Land Italy 1999-2000: Report
Some 77,000 illegal immigrants landed on Italian coasts during the period 1999-2000, according to an Italian parliamentary report on human trafficking which presented Wednesday.
It said that an estimated 50,000 foreign women were forced to work as prostitutes and that a third of them were below the age of 18.
Head of the Italian parliamentary anti-Mafia committee Giuseppe Lumia said that the trafficking in immigrants was "transnational" and managed by an "integrated mafioso criminal system."
Speaking at the presentation of the report, Italian Lower House Speaker Luciano Violante said that Italy was following a humane and responsible immigration policy and warned politicians against stirring up prejudice and hostility towards immigrants.
Violante said that "too often we hear false and factious comments on immigration, such as it's a problem which is out of control. That is not true."
He reported that last year, Italy deported 66,000 illegal immigrants while providing 63,000 legal newcomers with permits.
He urged policies of "inclusion not exclusion," saying that this was a "fundamental characteristic" of "European civilization, culture and mentality."
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