For Italy's upcoming election on 4 March, Antigone has sent a document to the major parties' candidates asking them to sign in support of five proposals.

For almost 30 years, Liberties member Antigone has been proposing an application of criminal law based on a model of minimisation, meaning that the use of criminal law should be kept to a minimum.

To this end, Antigone supports a review and revision of many laws for which punishment greatly outweighs the true offensiveness of the transgression. Antigone also calls for the use of non-custodial sentences to be enhanced, and the role of detention should be residual in order to prevent and punish those behaviours that can seriously damage the fundamental rights of any person and undermine social coexistence.

Antigone's 5 proposals

For the upcoming election, Antigone has prepared a document with five proposals and presented it to the candidates and their parties to ask them to sign and support its contents.

With regard to justice, Antigone believes that the issues on which the next legislature should focus are, among others:

1. The legalisation of cannabis and the decriminalisation of its consumption
2. Repeal of the crime of irregular immigration
3. Identification numbers for law enforcement officials
4. Reform of solitary confinement in the penitentiary system
5. Reform of ancillary penalties and recognition of the right to vote for detainees

Realising reform

Another issue that should not be forgotten is the reform of the penitentiary system. The long-expected reform, which would enhance the living conditions in prison, is almost complete; however, some important issues (such as the right to a sex life for prisoners, overcoming custodial security measures and a specific penitentiary system for juvenile penal institutions) were not included in the reform.

As this reform is very important to improve the justice system and create a better foundation for future legislation, it will be extremely important that the next legislature completes the reform and completes the work started during the former Parliament.