Suing someone for "servitude" crime in Italy - possible for UK citizen?

[vruyk]

I was reading about the recent conviction of a couple who kept people in servitude. An article on Wikipedia says:
It was alleged that the victims were "vulnerable homeless individuals" who were offered accommodation and work and then moved into "virtually uninhabitable" caravans. Prosecuting solicitor Graham Dono told Cheltenham Magistrates' Court: "They then required them to do manual work for excessive hours for payments of no more than £20 a day and in some cases no payment at all. They were given minimal amounts of food. Movements are restricted, mobile phones are not allowed and victims are kept in fear of reprisals if they attempt to leave ... Men would be forced to work for up to 14 hours a day and moved from location to location around the country. It is clear from police videos that the slaves have minimal clothing, they are always dirty and disheveled, they look extremely unhappy and there is evidence of members of the ... family at the locations in charge of the workers. Victims who had tried to leave sites had been tracked down and returned by members of the ... family. These victims are extremely vulnerable and are now in a safe house. We say some of them have been indoctrinated for as much as 20 years working in this way. They are people who are clearly fearful."

OK. So something similar happened to someone I know, in another country in Europe, for a period of 4 months before they escaped. She had no idea she could sue. The problem is, she doesn't speak the language, she doesn't live their any more, and it happened 2 years ago. There was no police investigation. She just returned to the UK and tried to recover. But now she wants to know if there is any point in suing. She knows it could be hard in another country. She wants to know whether she could get compensation for 4 months of treatment like this. She wants to know if she could approach these people with a lawyer and get an out-of-court settlement. Do you know who I can send her to for advice? She has little money for consulting a lawyer there but could save some money if it is worth it.

[baigh75]

First she would have to report the crime and the police would have to prosecute. What evidence does she have that she was imprisoned? The fact that she is no longer there weakens her case.

If the police were to bring a successful prosecution, then she ought to be able to sue for the wages she did not receive. Is it worth it? She should do the Maths and see.

Remind her that she needs to include the cost of returning to the country and staying there for some period of time whilst the evidence is collected. She should also consider whether the debt will be collectible.

EDIT: Without hard evidence this will be her word against theirs and she is a foreigner so the authorities will favour her 'employers'. Are there other victims? How did she find these people? Is it possible that they have someone now? If she can find common cause with others who have had the same experience, she stands a chance. Better if she can find someone currently there that is prepared to come forward.

Forget mediated compensation, that is just not going to happen. Why would her former employer admit to anything without a criminal conviction? If she confronts them and threatens them, she will herself be guilty of a criminal offence (blackmail).

[shadrach]

Why aren't you asking this question on the Italian page? You can't expect us to know about mediation in Italy. I think your friend might be well advised to approach a newspaper with her story and perhaps this way she might receive the kind of help and support she needs.