The two-year report on the condition of children and adolescents in Italy was drawn up following the indications given by the National Observatory on Childhood and Adolescence in January 2004. Therefore, attention was paid not only to the description of the condition of children in Italy, but also to some new phenomena which are emerging in this field. 

The report is divided into two parts. The first one contains a detailed analysis of the condition of children and adolescents in Italy. The second part examines the rights of children and adolescents on the basis of Italian legislation (in the light of the reform of Title V of the Constitution) and of European agreements; moreover, the second section of the report gives an overview of the best practices adopted by the State administrations (Ministries, Regions and local institutions) and by the associations which deal with the promotion and protection of the rights of under-age citizens.