Sebastian Carlotti

Dr Sebastian Carlotti

PhD Student
Institution: University of Pisa
Current Institution Location: Italy

Email: sebastian.carlotti@phd.unipi.it
Phone Number:  +393200388719

Migration Health Research Area/Expertise
My current research project studies the impact of the Italian migration policy during the COVID-19 lockdown on the health condition of migrants, asylum seekers, and undocumented migrants. This investigation revealed how restrictive migration policies, such as the Italian Security Decree or Salvini Decree, had significant consequence on the capacity of migrants to access healthcare services. Indeed, these negative outcomes affected all migration-related domains and bears potentially dangerous effects during the Coronavirus outbreak. My research interest, therefore, aims to understand the mechanisms which have produced such exclusion and exposure to the virus. Policy frameworks play, in this regard, a major role on the health condition of homeless migrants, migrant field workers, migrants in detention, in reception centres, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. All of those individuals had seen their overall exposure to COVID-19 increased as their living conditions were more and more characterised by overcrowding and poor hygienical circumstances. Moreover, a restrictive migration policy commonly increases the number of undocumented migrants, causing their invisibility and inability to reach out for public officials and healthcare services in general. Overall, my studies proposed a set of policy recommendations for the Italian Government (but, in principle, valid everywhere) which entailed both short-term solutions through a temporary suspension of certain norms (e.g. in order to grant access to emergency housing or healthcare) and also long-term recommendations to improve the protection of migrant health and of the communities they live with.

Research Focus/Expertise on Relevant Migrant Categories
International/Cross-Border Migration
Refugees (Adolescents, Adults, Elderly)
Resident visa holders (Children, Adolescents, Adults, Elderly)
Seasonal farm workers (Adolescents, Adults, Elderly)
Asylum seekers (Children, Adolescents, Adults, Elderly)
International migrant workers (Adolescents, Adults)
International students (Adolescents, Adults)

Relevant Publications

Title Author Year Published Link to Publication
Migration Policy and Health Insecurity. Italy's response to COVID-19 and the impact of the Security Decree Sebastian Carlotti
Italy’s Health Divide. Securitised Migration Policies and their Impact on Migrant Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic Sebastian Carlotti