E/CN.4/2005/85/Add.3 page 16 Prisons 62. The Special Rapporteur visited the prisons of Rebibbia (Rome) and San Vittore (Milan). On the day of her visit to Rebibbia there were 1,630 male prisoners, 35 per cent of whom were foreigners. The official register records up to 47 different nationalities among the ordinary detainees, mostly from North Africa and Eastern Europe. In San Vittore there were 807 foreign prisoners out of a total of 1,500. In the women’s section there were 62 foreigners as opposed to 68 Italians. 63. The foreign prisoners were generally serving short sentences for minor offences or for not obeying expulsion orders, although there were very few of the latter. The directors of both centres mentioned the difficulties attendant on the lack of cooperation from certain consulates. They also commented on the limited access for foreign prisoners to penalties other than deprivation of liberty. 64. During her visits to these prisons, the Special Rapporteur observed that foreign prisoners were taking part in cultural activities and vocational training workshops. 65. The Special Rapporteur was informed that 90 per cent of the foreign prisoners were in Italy illegally once they had completed their sentences. According to the legislation in force, once released these persons should be deported, but when deportation was not possible they were transferred to a CPTA. E. Other topics of interest Violence against immigrant women 66. Article 18 of the Consolidated Text establishes the requirements for granting special residence permits to victims of trafficking in persons, thus enabling them to participate in social assistance and rehabilitation programmes. The granting of these permits takes account of the victim’s contribution to the investigation and to the identification and arrest of members of the criminal organization. An application for a permit may be made not only by the prosecutor in cases where legal action is being taken, but also by the social services of local or other bodies responsible for social safety-net projects. During the period 2000-2003, 5,388 women took part in such projects and 2,857 had obtained a residence permit. The Ministry for Equal Opportunities had set up the inter-ministerial commission on trafficking in persons for which article 18 provides. 67. Some NGOs reported police pressure to make the victims of such trafficking cooperate with investigations. During her visit to the CPTA Restinco, on the other hand, the Special Rapporteur spoke to women held there who said that they had been victims of trafficking. 68. The Ministry for Equal Opportunities also reported on measures recently adopted under Act No. 228/2003 to combat trafficking in persons. A new definition of the offence of trafficking had been introduced by the Act, and provision made for prison sentences of between 8 and 20 years, while article 600 of the Criminal Code, concerning slavery and similar practices, had been reworked.