E/CN.4/2005/85/Add.3 page 20 89. The Special Rapporteur would also like to express her concern at the high percentage of foreigners in Italian prisons. She considers that the immediate deportation of prisoners after conviction means that the prison’s function of rehabilitating criminals is lost. 90. The Special Rapporteur noted that the regional authorities regarded the reform of the Aliens Act as an obstacle which constantly thwarted the implementation and effectiveness of their policies and programmes for integrating the immigrant population. 91. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the important steps taken by the Ministry for Equal Opportunities to combat trafficking in persons. B. Recommendations 92. In the light of this report, the Special Rapporteur invites the Government of Italy to consider the following recommendations. 93. It should pay the closest attention to whether the constant changes in the Aliens Act are consistent with the relevant requirements of the human rights instruments ratified by Italy. 94. Migration policy should be based on dialogue and fleshed out by contributions from all political forces and social partners. Dialogue between institutions and with civil society (immigrants’ associations, NGOs, churches, etc.) should be nurtured. The Special Rapporteur requests that the recommendations on migration submitted by CNEL, many of which she has endorsed, should be taken into account. 95. Italy should consider ratifying the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocols supplementing it. In particular, the Special Rapporteur advises a thorough analysis of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families for a correct assessment of its provisions. 96. The system of preferential quotas could be supplemented by development cooperation programmes. Information channels to consulates should also be improved. 97. Linking migration to employment also means bringing migration policy into line with the employment situation. The Special Rapporteur therefore proposes an annual programming of quotas to match demand on the Italian labour market, involving the regions and social forces in the reception extended to workers. Legal means of migration need to be promoted, and the provisional nature of decrees on maximum quotas and the restrictions on nationals from 8 out of the 10 new members of the European Union need to end. The requirements of the labour market should also be borne in mind in establishing the duration of residence permits. 98. Urgent steps should be taken to expedite the issuance and renewal of residence permits within the legal deadlines. The possibility of devolving this task upon local authorities and using information technology for accessing files should be considered.