Monday, October 25, 2010

Health cards: how to apply

 Health care in our country access to health care is through the performance of the "health card" which, among other things, in addition to their personal data also shows the tax code. But as you require a health card? And, if lost or stolen, how do you request a duplicate? Well, first of all there is to say that on any such information or request for clarification on the health card and its use is available toll free 800 030 070.

HOW TO ASK FOR THE CARD AND HEALTH DUPLICATE

  • That said, for those applying for the first time the health insurance card, just visit the local health jurisdiction of a plastic card bearing the tax code, an ID card and badge regional health board to speak.
  •  By submitting the documents specified in the Local Health Authority will release an interim release of the health card valid in all respects to access to benefits. Then, within a maximum 20 days, the city will receive at home and by e-health card plastic itself.
  • In case of theft or loss, if the health card, despite having been already issued, it was never delivered to the city, do not miss at any Inland Revenue Office, bringing with them, for the purposes the issue of a duplicate of the health card, the documents mentioned above, namely the plastic card of the tax code, the identity card and regional health card.
THE VALIDITY OF THE HEALTH CARD AND RENEWAL
  •  The health card, as well as access to health benefits, also acts in all respects even to the tax code and, therefore, for the same purpose for which it is the case in which the citizen must show the classic plastic card green.
  •  Unless otherwise indicated, the health card has a validity of six years in the city near the deadline to apply for new health insurance card does not do anything because it will be automatically sent to your home.

Wrong data is issued to new born infants,

  • Where the city once received a health card, were to detect the presence of bad data, should be present at any office of the Revenue to ask for its correction.
  •  For newborn babies, to apply from 1 January 2006 release and issuance of health insurance card, with a maturity of one year in this case, happens automatically and simultaneously in the allocation of the tax code.
  • Then, coinciding with the expiry of the health card for one year, when the local health authorities will have acquired the required information, will be issued for the child health card of standard duration.

Pope calls for open immigration policies favouring integration

"The future of our societies rests on the encounter between peoples"

Pope Benedict XVI has appreciated the "efforts to build a system of shared norms which provide for the rights and duties of foreigners and those of the host communities, bearing foremost to mind the dignity of each human being, created in the image and likeness of God. Obviously the acquisition of rights goes hand in hand with the acceptance of duties."

The Pope made the remarks when he received participants in the plenary session of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, who have been meeting to study the theme: "The pastoral care of human mobility today, in the context of the co-responsibility of States and International Organisations".

"National and international laws which promote the common good and respect for the person encourage the hopes and efforts being made to achieve a world social order founded on peace, fraternity and universal co-operation, despite the critical phase international institutions are currently traversing as they concentrate on resolving crucial questions of security and development for everyone".

Benedict XVI highlighted how "many people have not lost the desire to break down walls that divide, and to establish broad understanding also through legislative and administrative measures that favour integration, mutual exchange, and reciprocal enrichment. Coexistence among peoples can come about by following prudent and concerted policies of acceptance and integration, offering opportunities for people to attain legal status, favouring the legitimate right to family reunion, asylum and refuge, compensating any necessary restrictive measures, and contrasting the deplorable traffic in human beings.

"It is here", he added, "that the various international organisations, co-operating with one another and with States, can make their specific contribution ... to reconciling recognition for the rights of the individual with the principle of national sovereignty, making specific reference to the needs of security, public order, and the control of frontiers".

The Pope went on to explain that "the fundamental rights of the person can become the focal point for the co-responsible commitment of national and international institutions", recalling that this "is closely linked to openness to life, which is at the centre of true development".

"Openness to life and the rights of the family must be reiterated in various contexts", said the Pope. "The future of our societies rests on the encounter between peoples, on dialogue between cultures while respecting identities and legitimate differences. In this scenario, the family maintains its fundamental role. Thus the Church, by announcing the Gospel of Christ in all areas of life, carries forward her commitment 'not only in favour of the individual migrant, but also of his family, which is a place and resource of the culture of life and a factor for the integration of values'".

Many family reunification applicants in Rome can’t be reached

Report to Immigrations Office or your application will be rejected

Immigrations Office at the Prefecture in Rome is unable to contact so many people who applied for family reunification in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

All the letters summoning the applicants to the Immigrations Office have been returned to the sender. It appears that many of those who submitted applications for family reunification have changed addresses without notifying the Immigrations Office.

Now the Immigrations Office has decided to publish the list of applicants they’ve been unable to reach at the addresses they indicated on the application form. For privacy reasons, names of the applicants have not been published. Only the application codes have been published.

If you find your application’s code in the list, please go to the Immigrations Office on any of the following days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9:00 to 12.00, in via Ostiense 131/L. This is the last call. Those who fail to report by 31st October, will have their applications rejected.

Click here to see the list of applications risking rejection

Travelsex: Guide to safe sex during holidays

Many people return from holidays with sexually transmitted infections and undesired pregnancies

Every September Italian hospitals are full of people seeking to terminate undesired pregnancies and those seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections, Italian Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians has said.

Medics hold that Italy is a lazy country when it comes to the use of contraceptives.

According to their research, coitus interruptus is the most common method used by young people in the country. In fact 30% of young people who go for casual sex use coitus interruptus. This method is also known as “withdrawal” or “interrupted intercourse” because the man pulls out before ejaculation.

Although coitus interruptus can at times help avoid pregnancy, it is not effective at all in preventing sexually transmitted infections.

“As a method of contraception, it’s certainly better than nothing,” Dr. David Delvin, GP and family planning specialist in the UK writes on the Netdoctor.co.uk.

Dr. Delvin says that doctors do not recommend coitus interruptus because “it's easy to fail to withdraw early enough” and because “there may be sperms present in the 'dew drop' of fluid that a man produces when he is excited, but well before he actually ejaculates.”

Research by the Italian Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians reveals that 22% of young people in Italy say they don’t use any contraceptive method because their partners are opposed to the idea.

Equally striking is the fact that 58% say they don't use any protection at all because they don’t have it at hand when they need it.

It clearly emerges that most sexually active young people in the country are exposed to all sorts of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.

In Europe, Italy ranks six when it comes to the use of emergency contraceptive. In France and Portugal, 40% of women use pills. Throughout Europe, 24% of women use pills, but in Italy, only 16% do so.

“We have a long way to go,” says Dr. Giorgio Vittori, President of the Italian Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians. The country has certainly made some progress but there is still much more to be done, he says.

The Italian Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians has launched a campaign titled “Travelsex” to promote responsible sexual behaviour to prevent undesired pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections during summer holidays.

They’ll be holding workshops in 10 cities on the use of contraceptives and distributing information brochures in 20 other cities.

Those who take part in the workshops and prove to have acquired basic level of knowledge of contraceptive methods will be issued the so-called Passport of safe sex (Passaporto dell’amore sicuro), a symbolic certificate and a “Travelsex” guide book.

This guide book published by Giunti editore, is available in all bookshops. It has information about places to visit, what to say and how to behave in order to avoid sexual problems during summer holidays.

Dr. Vittori says it has become their tradition to promote awareness about safe and responsible sexual behaviour in summer.

At least 37% of young people in the country have their first sexual relationship without any preparation and without protection leading to an increasing rate of sexually transmitted infections, he says.

Minister of Youth Giorgia Meloni whose ministry sponsors the campaign says “sexual education of our young people is an investment on their future and the future of our community because helping them to safeguard their health is good for all.”

She has praised the campaign saying it is necessary in making the young people avoid undesired pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

Apart from the workshops, it is also possible to take part in the “Travelsex” campaign online, by logging on to the website www.sceglitu.it where there is a quiz, interactive games and detailed information about contraceptives and sexually transmitted infections.

“It is through such initiatives which use the young people’s language, that we may succeed to improve their level of knowledge of sexual health and reduce undesired pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections,” Dr. Vittori says.

Pubs urged to fully stock condom machines during World Cup

THT’s spokeswoman Edwards: “Safe sex isn’t something we should be ignoring

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has called on pub and bar staff to make sure their condom machines are fully stocked this World Cup to keep amorous sports fans safer from sexually transmitted infections during the tournament.

With previous major sporting events attracting an increased demand for condoms, for both athletes and supporters, it’s likely that this year’s World Cup tournament will prove no exception for increased post-sporting action.

Last year, despite 100,000 condoms being stockpiled for the Winter Olympics, an additional 8,500 had to be emergency airlifted into the Olympic Villages in Vancouver and Whistler.

And in Sydney, at the 2000 Olympics, organisers’ original order of 70,000 condoms for athletes went so fast that an extra 20,000 were needed which also ran out before the end of the Games.

Singer Beverley Knight is supporting THT’s ‘Scoring without getting an own goal’ World Cup campaign: “Pubs and bars are going to be packed to the rafters this World Cup and landlords and bar staff can make a real difference to keeping their punters safer throughout the tournament by making sure their condom machines are also full to the brim!

“There’s nothing that’s going to put you off your game more than an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection this summer, so let’s make safer sex sexy again.”

Terrence Higgins Trust’s spokeswoman, Genevieve Edwards, said: “With levels of sexually transmitted infections rising steadily in the UK safe sex isn’t something we should be ignoring. By keeping condom machines in the gents and ladies’ loos fully topped up staff can help prevent their customers getting an own goal this summer.”

Council of Europe votes against ban on burqa and niqab

"No woman should be compelled to wear religious apparel by her community or family"

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has ruled that there should be no general prohibition on wearing the burqa and the niqab or other religious clothing.

PACE, however, added that legal restrictions may be justified “for security purposes, or where the public or professional functions of individuals require their religious neutrality, or that their face can be seen”.

In a resolution unanimously adopted on 23rd June, the Assembly – which brings together parliamentarians from the 47 Council of Europe member states – said the veiling of women is often perceived as “a symbol of the subjugation of women to men” but a general ban would deny women “who genuinely and freely desire to do so” their right to cover their face.

However, the parliamentarians added: “No woman should be compelled to wear religious apparel by her community or family. Any act of oppression, sequestration or violence constitutes a crime that must be punished by law.”

European governments should also seek to educate Muslim women on their rights, as well as their families and communities, and encourage them to take part in public and professional life.

The Assembly, approving a report on Islam, Islamism and Islamophobia prepared by Mogens Jensen (Denmark, SOC), also called on Switzerland to repeal as soon as possible its general ban on the construction of minarets, which it described as discriminatory.

Council of Europe: Stop removals to unsafe countries

Member states urged to promote assisted voluntary returns

European Union member States have been called upon to only apply readmission agreements in the cases of countries which respect human rights and have a fully functioning asylum system.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said this is fundamental to protect irregular immigrants, especially third-country nationals who may risk finding themselves in a country which is not theirs of origin and where they have limited social rights and no opportunities to submit an asylum application.

According to the rapporteur Tineke Strik (Netherlands), "the chain of readmission agreements will hinder the chances of refugees to reach a safe haven”.

The adopted text based on her proposals urges towards greater transparency by compiling statistics on and monitoring the implementation of readmission agreements.

In a second text also adopted, based on a report by Ozlem Turkone (Turkey), PACE invited member states to promote assisted voluntary returns favouring programmes suggested by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which include: pre-departure counselling, giving current information about their home region and assistance in obtaining the necessary documents; then transportation assistance whether financially or in practical terms according to need; and finally post arrival assistance which ensures a sustainable return and helps development in the country of origin through training and employment opportunities.

Northern League Party: No help to immigrants with rent arrears

Northern League Party has come out strongly against a plan by the City of Council of Bologna to pay rent for immigrants facing financial problems.

The City Council of Bologna originally received some 224,000 Euros from the Ministry of Labour to pay rent for immigrants who were previously hosted in the immigration reception centres.

After doing so, almost half of the funds remained unused. That’s when the City Council decided to use them in helping immigrant families facing financial problems and have rent arrears.

The aim of the City Council was to save the immigrant families from eviction.

Councillor Manes Bernardini (Northern League) termed the measure inverse racism (racism against Italians). He said the funds should be used to help Italian families facing similar problems.

Bernardini holds that if immigrants no longer have the means of continuing to live in Italy, they should be helped to return to their home countries.

He said they can’t allow themselves to guarantee certain privileges to non-EU immigrants since they don’t have means of doing so to even Italian citizens.

Call to fight sexist stereotypes in the media

Council of Europe: Sexist stereotypes in the media a barrier to gender equality

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a resolution recommending a series of measures designed to combat sexist stereotypes in the media.

It invites the member states to set up regulatory and self-regulatory media authorities to reduce gender-based discrimination and to devise codes of good practice with partners in the profession to promote the balanced presence of women and men in the media.

At the same time, the Assembly encourages national parliaments to adopt legal measures to penalise sexist remarks or insults.

The rapporteur on this issue, Doris Stump (Switzerland), said media education also needs to be provided from an early age to teach young people how to decode images and messages.

The Assembly has also called on national parliaments to “adopt non-sexist language and not to resort to sexist stereotypes in the course of their parliamentary activities.”

At the same time, the Assembly urged the media to “favour a more balanced representation of women in the media and a non-stereotyped representation of women and men, thereby helping to overcome obstacles to gender equality.”

Respect the woman's body, Italian TV urged

Lorella Zanardo’s documentary and book say women are reduced to sexual objects

It is exactly a year since Ms. Lorella Zanardo produced “Il Corpo delle donne” (Women's Bodies), a short documentary critiquing the sexist and humiliating depictions of women on Italian television.

“Women's Bodies” is a montage of semi-naked and surgically altered women who are part and parcel of the country’s television. It is a very intelligent selection of television images that share a common manipulative exploitation of the woman’s body.

It clearly shows that the role of women in Italian TV is to display their bodies, dress in a way that leaves nothing to imagination, to dance and when possible, to strip. They are better seen than heard.

Ms. Zanardo is saddened by the fact that the only type of woman present on Italian TV is a beautiful woman without brain. She says that such an image provides a misleading message to young girls that their success depends on their bodies, not on their abilities and their knowledge.

No wonder some surveys have shown that the most popular ambition among female teenagers is to become a velina (a showgirl).
Watching the “Women's Bodies” leaves one wondering why the public, especially the women have allowed TV programs to give such a wrong image of women.

Ms. Zanardo decided to produce the documentary after realising that women – real women – were and are still an endangered species on television. The documentary proves that there is no place for real women on TV. Their place has been taken by a grotesque, vulgar and humiliating representation of women.

A year after producing the documentary and uploading it for free on the internet (www.ilcorpodelledonne.net), Ms. Zanardo is surprised by the media interest it has generated. The documentary has now been translated in English, Portuguese and Spanish. It has been watched by more than a million people on its website alone, without counting those who have watched it on YouTube.

In the documentary Ms. Zanardo says women’s “Faces become masks after plastic surgery. Bodies are inflated to ridiculous proportions, like those of circus freaks. They give us a false and surreal images of women.”

She says that “Real women’s bodies have been hidden away, instead we are presented with an obsessive vulgar image with silicon lips, thighs, breasts: the truth is removed and replaced with a mask.”

She adds that a woman is “reduced and reduces herself to be just a sexual object, fighting the passing of time, undergoing all sorts of freak transformations, being forced to stay within a frame, mute, or to present TV shows which require no competence whatsoever.”

“Why aren’t Italian women out on the streets protesting against this way of their being represented on TV?” she asks.

In one of her harshest criticisms of women, she says: “We are so used to seeing ourselves through the eyes of men that we can no longer decide what we want and what makes us happy.  I mean that we look at each other’s breasts, lips, wrinkles as if we were men…..  This current model of beauty doesn’t fit us, and it is somewhat strange that advertising uses images that reflect men’s sexual taste in order to sell products to women.”

Not even older women are spared this type of representation. Ms. Zanardo says: “Emancipated women nowadays have to present themselves in public always as desirable objects, even in a strictly professional context, even when the women on the screen are adults who might actually have something to say.  Since the only sign of desirability we are able to recognize is an explicit reference to sex, we have changed our entire imagery into that of a strip club. These images are recorded by positioning the camera before the shot as in pornographic films, starting with the breast, the pubic area, thighs, exactly like a porn movie. But we are actually watching a public broadcasting channel."

In an exclusive interview with Africa News, Ms. Zanardo says that her documentary is not against female TV presenters or showgirls, but against the distorted image of women on TV. “I know that many female TV presenters have watched my documentary but I haven’t received any bad reaction from them,” she says.

Ms. Zanardo says the humiliating use of a woman’s body on Italian TV started with the introduction of private TV some 30 years ago.

 “The real problem in Italy is that the public TV could have chosen to offer something different but unfortunately it chose to follow the private TV,” she says.

While many people use Auditel (a research company which carries out the television audience measurement in Italy) ratings to claim that Italy has this type of TV because people like it, Ms. Zanardo who has studied the data from Auditel doubts whether they really prove that the people like seeing women humiliated in this manner.

She says that many people like this type of TV simply because they’ve been watching it for so many years.  This could partly be the reason why so many young girls aspire to become showgirls. Ms. Zanardo says that TV has been their babysitters for 20 years so it is not surprising that they want to be like what they’ve been watching for all these years.

Ms. Zanardo is convinced that the Italian TV will one day change the way it represents women. And she is determined to campaign for it. She has in fact made this a key mission of her life.

As a way of fighting for a dignified representation of women on TV, Ms. Zanardo has developed a special media education programme training teachers to help their students become critical viewers of television content.

It is, however, proving difficult to implement the programme at national level because of lack of funds from the Government and other institutions.

For about a year, Ms. Zanardo has been taking the campaign to some parts of Italy, visiting universities, schools, and other learning institutions. During such visits they watch the documentary and discuss its content with students.

Recognizing the important role advertisers play in the production and broadcast of TV programs, Ms. Zanardo plans a public awareness campaign targeting them. “We’ll start to raise awareness and make them realise that it’s a high time they started investing money in TV programs which don’t represent women in this negative way,” she says.

Ms. Zanardo holds that succeeding in convincing advertisers to stop sponsoring programs featuring women in a humiliating way would be key to changing the trend.

She also plans to a create a similar campaign targeting TV producers.

“Women have lost their freedom to be themselves, to be natural,” says Ms. Lara Magrini, an Italian woman after watching “Women's Bodies”. She is worried about many young people who now lack interest in watching serious programs apart from football and highly sexualised programs.

Ms. Zanardo has just published a book with the same title of the documentary “Il corpo delle donne” in which she narrates the reactions she has received since producing the documentary.

In the book published by Feltrinelli, Ms. Zanardo tells what Italian women think about the issue, how they’d like to be represented, and proposes what should be done to stop the degrading use of women’s bodies on Italian TV.

She also explains the reasons why they decided to produce the documentary, how the public reacted to it, the debate it has generated especially amongst the young people. The book has a chapter on media education, providing information on how to watch TV critically.

Italian language test obligatory for EC long-term residence permit

From December, immigrants who would like to apply for the EC long-term residence permit (Carta di Soggiorno) will be required to pass an Italian language test.

The rule was introduced by the Security Law last year but only now the ministries of Home Affairs and Education have established how the test will be conducted in a Decree published in the Official Gazette on 11th June.

The new rule will enter into force in December, so those who meet the requirements for applying for the EC long-term residence permit and would like to avoid taking the test should submit their applications right away.

The test will be taken at the Prefecture, most likely at the Immigrations Office. While the test will be taken on computer, there will be a possibility of requesting to take it on paper.

A candidate must get at least 80% to pass the test. Those who will fail the test will have a chance of repeating it even though the test doesn’t appear that difficult. Candidates will in fact be required to prove that they have Lower intermediate level (A2) knowledge of Italian language. This should not be a problem for immigrants who have been living in the country for at least five years.

In any case not all the applicants for the EC long-term residence permit will be required to take the language test. The following will be exempted from taking the test: minor children under 14 years of age, those having problems with language comprehension (this must be certified by a medical doctor), those who have Italian language certificate (Level A2), those who have obtained lower or higher secondary school Diploma in Italy, University students, PhD and Masters students, managers, University professors, translators and interpreters, foreign correspondents who came to Italy out of the Quota system.

Details on Italian language test for EC long-term residence permit

 The Government has confirmed that from December, immigrants who would like to apply for the EC long-term residence permit (Carta di Soggiorno) will be required to pass an Italian language test.

Candidates will be required to prove that they have Lower intermediate level (A2) knowledge of Italian language.

Here’s what Lower intermediate level (A2) knowledge of Italian language means according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR).

What does Lower intermediate level (A2) knowledge of Italian language mean?

Listening: I can understand phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment). I can catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements.

Reading: I can read very short, simple texts. I can find specific, predictable  information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and I can understand short simple personal letters.

Spoken Interaction: I can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities. I can handle very short social exchanges, even though I can't usually understand enough to keep the conversation going myself.

Spoken Production: I can use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms my family and other people, living conditions, my educational background and my present or most recent job.

Writing: I can write short, simple notes and messages. I can write a very simple personal letter, for example thanking someone for something.

New income brackets for family allowance in force

The new income brackets for family allowance (assegno familiare) published by the Italian National Social Security Institute (INPS) are now in force.

The new rules became effective on 1st July 2010, and will remain effective until 30th June 2011.

Family allowances are given to subordinate workers under specific conditions, and to parasubordinate workers, both Italians and foreigners when their family income falls below a certain level. The level varies according to the number of people in the family.

The application is to be submitted to the employer who pays the allowance together with the worker’s salary, then the employer will be reimbursed by INPS.

Domestic workers and those working in the agricultural sector have to submit the application at the branches of INPS.  Their allowance is paid directly by INPS.


Click on this link to download the new income brackets.

European Convention to fight child abuse comes into force

 "Sexual violence against children is a crime against childhood”


The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse is now in force.

It is the first international instrument to tackle all forms of sexual violence against children, including abuse perpetrated within the family environment.

Apart from sexual abuse, child prostitution and pornography and coercing children into participating in pornographic performances, the convention also deals with grooming and sex tourism.

For Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, "Sexual violence against children is a crime against childhood. Eradicating it will take more than words and promises. We shall need definite actions to prevent, condemn and punish abuses, help children to protect and express themselves, and give victims a chance to overcome their trauma. This is necessary, feasible and urgent."

The Council of Europe will accordingly be launching an awareness-raising campaign in Rome, Italy on 29th November, the aim being to eliminate sexual violence against children. One of the principal objectives will be to draw public attention to the extent of the sexual abuses perpetrated by trusted individuals (within the home, at school or in the context of extracurricular activities). The campaign will also be an opportunity to break the silence surrounding sexual abuse and to educate children and professionals so as to prevent all forms of sexual violence as far as possible.