Turin, Memory and Rights: Two Dedications for Andrea Soldi and Moussa Balde

Turin, 9-08-2025, at the Palazzo Civico in Turin, the Guarantor of the Rights of Persons Deprived of Personal Liberty was presented. The event marked the conclusion of a decade-long commitment and brought forward two strong calls for remembrance and the protection of human rights.

The TSO Observatory Dedicated to Andrea Soldi

During the presentation, outgoing Guarantor Monica Gallo put forward a symbolic proposal: “Let us name the Observatory on Compulsory Health Treatments after Andrea Soldi.”

Soldi, a Turin resident who died in 2015 during the execution of a compulsory psychiatric treatment order (TSO), has become a symbol of the risks and controversies surrounding such interventions.

The Observatory—the first of its kind in Italy—was created in 2023 through an agreement between the City, the University of Turin, the local health authority (ASL), the hospital authority, and the Guarantor’s Office. Its mission is to monitor cases, analyse data, and raise awareness. Naming it after Andrea Soldi, Gallo stressed, would enshrine his story as a permanent reminder of the need for vigilance.

A Green Space for Moussa Balde

Council President Maria Grazia Grippo expressed her full support for the proposal and also drew attention to another pending initiative: the dedication of the green space in front of the migrant detention centre (CPR) on Corso Brunelleschi to Moussa Balde.

Balde, a young migrant, tragically took his own life in the CPR. The proposal, originally advanced by District 3 and approved by the Commissione Toponomastica on July 5, 2022, is currently awaiting approval from the Prefettura di Torino

“It would be important,” Grippo emphasised, “to complete this dedication by the end of the current Council’s mandate, as a seal on a journey that began three years ago in memory of a tragic event that highlighted the living conditions inside CPRs. The City Council has already formally called for their permanent closure.”

A Tribute to Monica Gallo

The ceremony also included a moment of recognition for Monica Gallo, who, after ten years concluded her mandate as Guarantor. In a symbolic gesture, Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin, presented her with a bouquet, thanking her publicly for her decade-long commitment to protecting the rights of people deprived of personal liberty. The gesture, captured by journalists and warmly received by the audience, underscored the profound human and institutional significance of Gallo’s work.

The event concluded with remarks from the Mayor, who stressed the importance of compassion and responsibility across institutions and society:

*“I really believe that this issue of how to deal with society’s misgivings is central. We must recover a sense of humanity, and perhaps also a word that has become a bit unfashionable: kindness. We should open our hearts and try to see these people for who they are, but also for who they could become if they are accompanied and supported in developing their talents to contribute positively.

This reflection must involve the entire public sector. It concerns the staff directly working in custodial and educational processes, but it is also a broader responsibility for all of us. Even the media play a key role: the way stories are told, the language used, the aspects emphasized — all these shape society’s understanding of the phenomena and our shared responsibility.

I believe this must remain at the center of the activity of those who will succeed Monica Gallo in the next five years: attention to individuals, attention to reality, and above all, a positive approach that seeks to give hope to these young people.”*

The event drew strong media attention. Among those present were Mr. Lucky Omosigho of Obaland Magazine, along with journalists from La stampa, Torino cronaca in Turin City, underscoring the significance of the discussion for both local and national audiences.

A Common Thread: Memory, Dignity, Rights

Both proposals—the Observatory dedicated to Andrea Soldi and the green space named for Moussa Balde reflect a shared goal: to keep alive the memory of lives lost in circumstances marked by vulnerability, institutional responsibility, and denied rights.

If approved, these dedications would transform both institutional spaces and public areas into enduring symbols of dignity and civic conscience, continuing the path laid out by the Guarantor and the City Council toward a more rights-conscious Turin.