An 18-year-old girl of Chinese origin, whose only official record is a birth registration in Rovigo, Italy, has been identified after living 17 years without medical visits or schooling.

The discovery, initially reported by the local newspaper Bresciaoggi, took place during a police intervention in a clandestine textile workshop in a town in the province of Brescia in Northern Italy.

The young woman was found alongside her mother, who had reportedly moved through various unauthorized Chinese-run textile workshops across Northern Italy over the years.

This latest location marked the last known stop on this circuit of hidden workplaces.

The girl's situation came to light last spring when local authorities conducted a raid on the clandestine operation.

This raid was part of broader efforts to address illegal labor practices within the region's textiles sector.

Following the discovery, authorities are now evaluating the circumstances of the young woman's upbringing, continually in the presence of her mother after the mother’s separation from her husband.

As this case reaches public attention nearly a year after the initial discovery, it raises questions regarding the oversight of unregistered labor environments and the welfare of workers and their families.

Italian authorities remain engaged in the investigation as they consider further legal and social actions to address the implications of this case.