ITALIAN CONSTITUTION
16 - 30

Article 16 [Freedom of Movement]
(1) Every citizen has the right to reside and travel freely in any part of the national territory except for limitations provided by general laws protecting health or security. No restriction may be imposed for political reasons. (2) Every citizen is free to leave the territory of the republic and return to it except for obligations defined by law.

Article 17 [Right of Assembly]
(1) All citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and unarmed. (2) For meetings, including those held in places to which the general public has access, no previous notice is required. (3) For meetings held in public places previous notice must be given to the authorities, who may prohibit them only on the ground of proven risks to security or public safety.

Article 18 [Freedom of Association
] (1) Citizens have the right freely and without authorization to form associations for those aims not forbidden by criminal law. (2) Secret associations and associations pursuing political aims by military organization, even if only indirectly, are forbidden.

Article 19 [Freedom of Religion]
Everyone is entitled to freely profess religious beliefs in any form, individually or with others, to promote them, and to celebrate rites in public or in private, provided they are not offensive to public morality.

Article 20 [Religious Associations]
For associations or institutions, their religious character or religious or confessional aims do not justify special limitations or fiscal burdens regarding their establishment, legal capacity, or activities.

Article 21 [Freedom of Communication]
(1) Everyone has the right to freely express thoughts in speech, writing, and by other communication. (2) The press may not be controlled by authorization or submitted to censorship. (3) Seizure is permitted only by judicial order stating the reason and only for offences expressly determined by the press law or for violation of the obligation to identify the persons responsible for such offences. (4) In cases of absolute urgency where immediate judicial intervention is impossible, periodicals may be seized by the judicial police, who must immediately and in no case later than 24 hours report the matter to the judiciary. If the measure is not validated by the judiciary within another 24 hours, it is considered revoked and has no effect. (5) The law may, by general provision, order the disclosure of financial sources of periodical publications. (6) Publications, performances, and other exhibits offensive to public morality are prohibited. Measures of prevention and repression against violations are provided by law.

Article 22 [Citizenship and Name]
Nobody may be deprived of legal capacity, citizenship, or name for political reasons.

Article 23 [Personal Services]
Nobody may be forced to perform personal service or payment without legal provision.

Article 24 [Right to be Heard in Court]
(1) Everyone may bring cases before a court of law in order to protect their rights under civil and administrative law. (2) Defense is an inviolable right at every stage and instance of legal proceedings. (3) The poor are entitled by law to proper means for action or defense in all courts. (4) The law defines the conditions and forms for reparation in the case of judicial errors.

Article 25 [Defendant's Rights]
(1) No case may be removed from a court, but must be heard as provided by law. (2) No punishment is allowed except provided by a law already in force when the offence has been committed. (3) Security measures against persons are only allowed as provided by law.

Article 26 [Extradition]
(1) A citizen may be extradited only as expressly provided by international conventions. (2) In any case, extradition may not be permitted for political offences.

Article 27 [Rights of the Accused]
(1) Criminal responsibility is personal. (2) The defendant may not be considered guilty until sentenced. (3) Punishments may not contradict humanity and must aim at re-educating the convicted. (4) Death penalty is prohibited except by military law in time of war.

Article 28 [Responsibility of Public Officials]
State officials and employees of other public bodies are directly responsible under criminal, civil, and administrative law for acts committed in violation of rights. Civil liability extends to the state and public bodies.

Title II Ethical and Social Relations
Article 29 [Marriage]
(1) The familty is recognized by the republic as a natural association founded on marriage. (2) Marriage entails moral and legal equality of the spouses within legally defined limits to protect the unity of the family.

Article 30 [Parental Duties and Rights]
(1) Parents have the duty and right to support, instruct, and educate their children, including those born out of wedlock. (2) The law provides for the fulfillment of those duties should the parents prove incapable. (3) Full legal and social protection for children born out of wedlock is guaranteed by law, consistent with the rights of other family members. (4) Rules and limits to determine paternity are set by law.

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Via del Battirame, 6/3
40138 BOLOGNA (Italy)
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Dott.ssa Alessandra A. Pigliacampo

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