At a glance
- Legislative Decree No. 91/2026 implements EU Directives 2024/1499 and 2024/1500, strengthening anti-discrimination protections across employment, access to goods and services, and social security.
- From 1 January 2027, a new independent Organismo per la parità (Equality Body) will be established with full regulatory, organisational and financial autonomy.
- The new body will replace existing equality institutions, including the National Equality Councillor and the office responsible for combating racial or ethnic discrimination.
- It will have broad powers, including assisting victims, handling complaints, monitoring discrimination, issuing recommendations, and bringing legal proceedings.
- The decree also introduces enhanced prevention measures, including training, awareness initiatives, data collection, and coordination with public authorities and social partners.
Legislative Decree No. 91 of 7 May 2026, published in the Official Gazette, implements EU Directives 2024/1499 and 2024/1500 on equality bodies and anti-discrimination measures. The decree introduces a revised framework aimed at strengthening equal treatment and equal opportunities in employment, access to goods and services, and social security.
From 1 January 2027, the decree establishes a new independent authority, the Equality Body, which will benefit from regulatory, organisational, accounting and financial autonomy. This body will assume the functions currently carried out by the National Equality Councillor and the Office for the Promotion of Equal Treatment and the Removal of Discrimination based on race or ethnic origin.
The Equality Body will consist of a president and four members, jointly appointed by the Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, each serving a non-renewable seven-year term. Its core functions include providing assistance to victims of discrimination, receiving complaints, conducting investigations and monitoring activities, issuing opinions and recommendations, and initiating legal proceedings to protect affected individuals.
The decree also strengthens preventive and promotional measures by providing for training, awareness-raising initiatives, and data collection, as well as coordination with public authorities, social partners and regional equality bodies. In addition, it introduces the possibility of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and guarantees access to free assistance services for victims of discrimination.
Finally, the decree includes transitional provisions and amendments to the Equal Opportunities Code, ensuring the transfer of competences, functions and legal relationships to the new Equality Body from 2027 onwards.
