Italy: emergency number for children in need

Telefono Azzurro Onlus has launched a new emergency number which is free of charge 24 hours a day from fixed phones, and is designed for children in need. The number is 114 and operates every time the psychophysical health of children and adolescents is in danger or at a risk of trauma. At present the number is operational in Lombardy, Veneto, Sicily, Emilia Romagna, Lazio and Piedmont. The service, promoted by the Ministries of Communication, Labour, Social Policy and Equal Opportunities, is administrated by Telefono Azzurro that, thanks also to the support of Telecom Italia, is committed to extending the programme to the whole of Italy by 2005. www.azzurro.it