Cécile Kyenge on racist attacks and obstacles to change

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Cécile Kyenge has been the Italian minister in charge of integration since the end of April. • ... • euronews, the most watched news channel in Europe • Subscribe for your daily dose of international news, curated and explained:http://eurone.ws/10ZCK4a • Euronews is available in 13 other languages: http://eurone.ws/17moBCU • http://www.euronews.com/2013/08/09/ce... • Cécile Kyenge has been the Italian minister in charge of integration since the end of April. • Despite that - or perhaps because of it - she made headlines around the world when she became the target of racial attacks after her appointment. • The abuse came from the highest levels. The vice-president of the senate - a member of the Northern League - compared her to an orangutan. She has received death threats, insults, and bananas were thrown at her at a rally. • Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo 49 years ago, Cecile Kyenge arrived in Italy in 1983 to study medicine. She had hoped for a scholarship, which she didn't get straightaway. So, for a year, she lived in Italy illegally, and to fund her studies she did a variety of jobs. • • She was a model student, and sailed through her studies. • In 1994, she married an Italian engineer and became a full Italian citizen. • Euronews reporter Cecillia Cacciotto spoke with Cécile Kyenge and began by asking: After these racist attacks where you were the target, you are the best-known Italian minister in the world. How have you coped with all of that? • • Cécile Kyenge replied: It's not easy. Since my appointment I have suffered racist attacks every day. I don't consider these to be attacks on me personally, but rather attacks on the institution that I represent. • At the same time, it is a major experience. This difficult part of my life is always in my mind. My goal is always the same - to support others. • euronews: You chose Italy because you loved the country. As a minister, have you found Italy to be more backward? • Cécile Kyenge: Many things happening today are not due to the fact that Italy is racist, but because Italy is experiencing a time of change, which has not been supported by good policies or communication that explain the phenomenon of migration, but most of all by education based on Italian history. • euronews: You have received the full support of the government and the full support of Prime Minister Letta and President Napolitano. Did you expect anything more? • Cécile Kyenge: That is a difficult question. This is the first time that Italy has had a minister from abroad, so it's the first time that Italy has faced this problem. • euronews: Would have wanted the vice-president of the senate to resign? • Cécile Kyenge: That's not for me to say.... • euronews: I'm not saying 'Minister Kyenge' but you, Cecile Kyenge, would you have liked that? • Cécile Kyenge: I would have liked... but in the end it was his decision... nobody should impose that. Change starts like this. Someone takes a decision, but can reverse it. • euronews: Are Italians racist? • Cécile Kyenge: There are some, but not everyone is racist, otherwise I would not have had the opportunity to live the life that I have. • • euronews: Have you ever regretted taking the job of integration minister? • Cécile Kyenge: No, never, not even for a moment. • euronews: Have you ever thought of leaving the government? • • Cécile Kyenge: No, there are always people who take things forward, but no-one should be put ahead of the cause. Everything should be sacrificed for the cause, sometimes even yourself. • euronews: Your appointment is very symbolic - the danger is that it remains just symbolic - because your ministry is a ministry without portfolio. Do you think that could be an obstacle, given the limited means at your disposal? • Cécile Kyenge: No, I think that sometimes changes can be made with few resources. Sometimes you can bring about change by working properly between ministries. • euronews: The right for children of immigrants born in Italy to have Italian nationality, and decriminalising clandestine immigration are your priorities. Three months after taking over, what have you done? • Cécile Kyenge: Children born to couples living in Italy for 3-5 years are born in the same hospitals, go to the same schools and the same sports halls as other Italian children. They've already begun a life that's different to their parents. • • Find us on: • Youtube http://bit.ly/zr3upY • Facebook / euronews.fans • Twitter / euronews

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