A/HRC/14/43 in public life, owning property or gaining equal access to adequate education, health, social services, employment or adequate housing. Poverty and social disadvantage suffered by these individuals are then cited as evidence to confirm and justify the prejudices and discriminatory practices targeting them. 15. The Special Rapporteur is of the view that socio-economic discriminatory practices targeting specific individuals and groups of individuals create the conditions for a highly polarized society and may therefore contribute, in the long run, to the triggering of tensions, acts of violence or conflict along group lines. In this regard, the recent clashes in Italy between migrant workers and the local population illustrate the links between conflict, socio-economic discrimination and racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 16. The issue of socio-economic discrimination suffered by migrant workers, in particular non-European Union citizens, in Italy has been raised by United Nations human rights mechanisms. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination stated in its concluding observations on Italy (CERD/C/ITA/CO/15, para. 17) that it was concerned at reports regarding the situation of undocumented migrant workers from various parts of the world, in particular from Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, drawing attention to violations of their human rights, in particular of their economic, social and cultural rights, including alleged ill-treatment, low wages received with considerable delay, long working hours and situations of bonded labour, whereby a part of wages are withheld by employers as payment for accommodation in overcrowded lodgings without electricity or running water. The Special Rapporteur’s predecessor had also raised concerns about the access of migrants in Italy to employment, to health and housing (A/HRC/4/19/Add.4, paras. 49–53). 17. While isolated incidents triggered the violent clashes between migrant workers and the local population in the city of Rosarno in southern Italy, it is alleged that the root causes of the events were related to the long-standing socio-economic discrimination suffered by migrant workers and the growing xenophobic attitude by the local population against migrant workers. As declared in a joint statement by the Special Rapporteur and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants on 12 January 2010, “the violence which erupted in Rosarno is extremely worrying since it reveals serious and deep-rooted problems of racism against those migrant workers”.11 The Government of Italy has proposed to improve the socio-economic situation of migrant workers by improving housing conditions and launching projects for the establishment of vocational training centres for migrants, as well as other projects to improve the integration of immigrants in southern Italy. 18. Taking the view that in the long-term socio-economic discriminatory practices against certain individuals or groups of the population may contribute to tensions or conflict within society, the Special Rapporteur believes that it is of the utmost importance for States to take all appropriate measures to redress such socio-economic discrimination, including through affirmative action, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. He emphasizes that ensuring the equality of all individuals and equal access to economic, social and cultural rights for the population residing on its territory is one effective way through which a State may prevent and address the eruption of tensions or conflict within a society. 11 “UN experts urge Italian authorities to curb xenophobic attitude towards migrant workers”, 12 January 2010. Available from www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx? NewsID=9710&LangID=E. 8 GE.10-12566