Italy

Current situation & recent developments

Suspension of conscription: Following the cessation of conscription on January 1, 2005, Italy transitioned to a fully professional and volunteer military force, as mandated by legislation passed by the Italian Parliament in August 2004.^[1] This legislation concluded compulsory military service for men, which was in effect until December 31, 2004. Currently, the Italian armed forces comprise entirely volunteers, both male and female, unless a state of war or significant international military crisis necessitates the reinstatement of conscription through legislative action.

Additionally, the provision for the potential reinstatement of conscription during times of war or national emergencies is maintained under Law 331/2000.^[2] The Italian Constitution highlights the defence of the nation as a supreme duty of its citizens, suggesting conscription could be a legal measure under specific conditions.

Professional army: In terms of voluntary military service, the Italian military requires recruits to be aged between 18-25 years and commit to a minimum of one year of service.

The "Rapporto esercito 2023" issued by the General Staff of the Italian Army, provides a detailed overview of the army's status, operations, strategic initiatives, and personnel matters for the year 2023.

Reintroduction of conscription: In the country there is still ongoing a hiccuping political debate outside the Parliament on whether compulsory conscription should be reintroduced. Many of these statements come mainly from right-wing parties that decry the so-called “educational virtues of the military service”^[3]. Actually, the current Minister of Defence is not supporting such proposals valuing the contribution of a professional army.^[4]

Civilian service: A good practice –which descends directly from the alternative civilian service at the time of conscription– that Italy continues to pursue till today is the “Universal civil service [which] is the voluntary choice to devote up to one year of one's life to the service of unarmed and nonviolent defence of the homeland, education, peace among peoples and the promotion of the founding values of the Italian Republic, through actions for communities and the territory. It is open to all young people between the ages of 18 and 28 (29 not completed), including foreigners legally residing in Italy. Universal Civil Service represents an important opportunity for training and personal and professional growth for young people, who are an indispensable and vital resource for the cultural, social and economic progress of the country.”^[5] Although civilian service is a good practice and it engages a great portion of the civil society stakeholders its roots are often unknown to the civilian service volunteers and the notion of conscientious objection to military service is at risk to disappear.

Militarization of schools and exposure of underage to militarism: The major concerning element to register in Italy is an increase in the militarization of the educational curricula which has led to the creation of the Osservatorio contro la militarizzazione della scuola^[6] (Observatory of the militarization of school) in early 2023. The initiative has been led by COBAS scuola, an Italian Union focused on the school system and it has then been supported by several other organisations.

The Observatory denounces that “schools and universities are increasingly becoming the terrain of conquest for a belligerent and securitarian control ideology that is making its way through the direct intervention of the armed forces (particularly Italian and U.S.) declined in a myriad of initiatives aimed at promoting military careers in Italy and abroad, and at presenting the armed forces and security forces as solving problems that are instead pertinent to civil society. This invasion of the field features representatives of the military forces even as "lecturers," giving lessons on various topics (from English entrusted to NATO personnel to issues pertaining to legality and the Constitution) and even goes so far as to involve school-to-work alternation (PCTO) paths through the organisation of visits to military bases or barracks. All supported by memoranda of understanding signed by Army representatives with the Ministry of Education, Regional and Provincial School Offices and individual schools.”

There are information regarding teachers who objected to militaristics classes and had professional consequences for such a decision.

The issue of exposing minors to militaristic propaganda has been addressed also in the past through the national campaign “Militarized schools,”^[7] launched by MIR Italy and Pax Christi Italy.

It is also important to mention that the exposure to militarism does not take place only at school but also at military sites where students are often taken to in school trips or through public communication and advertisements regarding military bodies.^[8]

Another element of concern, regarding minors, are the regular arms fairs which are held in Italy with free access to underage individuals who can freely enter and have access to weapons there.^[9] 

Civilian, unarmed and nonviolent defence: It is worth mentioning that since there is a national campaign accompanied with a citizens' initiative bill regarding the establishment of a civilian unarmed and nonviolent defence in Italy. Several Parliamentary initiatives took place to foster such a proposal which is still work in progress. Of particular interest is the focus on the concept of “defence” as not necessarily an “armed defence” and the direct link to the Constitution and the responsibility to defend the country mentioned there which is thus expressed in a non-militaristic perspective.^[10]