Rome - Since 2008, some 40 Romanian minors have committed
suicide after their mothers emigrated in search of work, a
Romanian women's group told a Lower House conference on Friday.
Currently there are two million immigrant families living
in Italy, and 75% of the women have left their children in their
home country for economic reasons, according to the Romanian
Women in Italy Association (ADRI).
The suffering that separation causes what psychologists
have dubbed "Italy Syndrome", a severe form of depression
affecting both the mothers, many of whom work as nannies or
caring for elderly people, and the children, the so-called
"white orphans" of emigrant mothers.
"Taking care of other people's children while one's own
child is thousands of miles away tears away at you," said ADRI
President Silvia Dimitrache.
"This issue needs to be talked about more," said conference
organizer Khalid Chaouki, an MP from the ruling Democratic Party
who is an outspoken defender of immigrants' rights.
Soleterre, a humanitarian NGO that works with immigrants,
called on the government to set up an observatory on family
reunions.
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