On January 20, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Italy violated the right to life (Article 2 of the Convention) and the right to respect for private and family life (Article 8 of the Convention). The ruling was based on Italy’s prolonged failure to address widespread illegal waste dumping by organized criminal groups in the Terra dei Fuochi (Land of Pyres) region near Naples.

The Italian government argued that it had taken sufficient action to mitigate the health impacts of pollution, including intensified cancer screening efforts. However, the Court rejected this defense, stating that such measures were inadequate, as meaningful cancer mitigation policies were not introduced until 2013. Additionally, the Court criticized Italy’s slow and ineffective efforts to assess contamination levels and implement decontamination measures.

Ilegal dumping in Terra dei Fuochi, located in Italy’s Campania region, has been a persistent issue for decades. Authorities have been aware of the problem since 1988, yet pollution of the soil and groundwater has continued to worsen, leading to a rise in cancer rates among residents. The ECtHR ordered Italy to develop a comprehensive strategy within two years to combat illegal dumping. The ruling, issued in Article 46 of the Convention, requires the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism and the creation of a public information platform to provide transparency on the issue.

Italy now faces an oversight to ensure compliance with the court’s directive, as it works to implement long-overdue measures to protect rights of its residents and restore environmental safety in Terra dei Fuochi.