BRINGING ITALIAN ISSUES TO ITALY COMITES REPRESENTING ITALIANS ABROAD by Isabella Ventura
Ubaldo Aglianò, President of ComItEs Victoria and Tasmania, speaks with Segmento to explain the specific role of this important organization for Italians abroad. What exactly is ComItEs?
Ubaldo Aglianò
ComItEs, or Comites as it is sometimes referred to, translates as Committees of Italians Abroad. It was established by Italian law in 1985 as a representative body for all Italians living abroad. ComItEs operates in every consular district where at least 3,000 Italian citizens reside. This means that there is a vast network of ComItEs in many countries, each of which works with consular authorities, governments, and associations to ensure that responses to Italians abroad are informed and impactful in areas such as welfare, sociocultural initiatives, education, recreation, sport, and leisure. Each of the ComItEs representatives are directly elected by Italians in the areas they represent. Further, each ComItEs undertakes research and initiatives that aim to identify the social, cultural, and civic needs of its represented community. Current themes of interest include the engagement of young people in various activities, equal opportunities, social and educational assistance, and professional training. ComItEs representatives take on a role enshrined in law when they are elected. This ensures that ComItES has a specific and lawful role as a pivotal advisory body for the Italian Government and Parliament on major issues affecting communities abroad. ComItES operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Italy.
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GLOBAL & SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Country Assembly 2022
Tell us about the recent Australian Assembly. The first 2022 session of Intercomites (represented by all the ComItES presidents) and Assemblea Paese (Australian Assembly of Committee Members and Italian associations delegates) took place in early April at the Italian Embassy in Canberra. With the pandemic disrupting the usual plans, it was valuable to get the opportunity to come together in person. The presidents of each of the Australian areas are Franco Barilaro (ComItES Canberra), Marinella Marmo (ComItES South Australia), Ubaldo Aglianò (ComItES Victoria and Tasmania), Luigi Di Martino (ComItES New South Wales), Simone Trentino (ComItES Queensland and Northern Territory), Francesco Abbonizio (ComItES Western Australia), and Franco Papandrea (General Council of Italians Abroad Councillor). The presidents discussed many issues, among which were the promotion of the Italian language and heritage tourism, that is, tourism undertaken by people of Italian background to rediscover and connect with their Italian roots. We explored synergies in each of our strategic visions
Segmento Issue XXVII • Jun-Aug 2022
