PRESS RELEASE

D.i.Re – Women in Network against violence and Giulia Cecchettin Foundation:

Anti-violence centers do valuable work for women's freedom

Following the statements reported in the name of Gino Cecchettin by the Corriere del Veneto, D.i.Re – Donne in Rete contro la violenza, which represents the National Network of Feminist Anti-Violence Centers, and Fondazione Giulia Cecchettin feel the responsibility to jointly rectify the feedback of the interview.

"When you try to eliminate prejudices, to create alliances, to generate awareness, you expose yourself. You put your heart into every word, every gesture. But sometimes, that heart is misunderstood, judged, used. I want to categorically deny having ever accused the Anti-Violence Centers of misconduct” declares Gino Cecchetin, president of the Giulia Cecchettin Foundation. “I myself, together with all the members and volunteers of the Giulia Cecchettin Foundation, would like to reiterate with conviction our full support for the usefulness, professionalism and daily commitment of the Anti-Violence Centers (CAV). During the last Board of Directors of the Foundation, we approved the allocation of funds for the opening of a new CAV: a concrete gesture that demonstrates our trust in the fundamental role played by these facilities and by the staff - employees and volunteers - who work there" Cecchettin continues. “My recent observation, taken out of a broader context during the establishment of the Veneto Regional Observatory against gender violence, was in no way intended to question the work done by the CAVs. On the contrary, it wanted to underline how urgent and necessary it is to strengthen their presence on the territory and provide them with adequate resources. I think this is the purpose of an observatory. A final appeal I make to the world of information: on such a delicate topic, words have weight. Chasing the scoop or forcing the controversy can compromise valuable work done with dedication by institutions, associations and professionals. But, above all, it can put at risk the safety and trust of the victims.” – concludes the president of the Foundation

" On behalf of our Network – after the fruitful discussion within the Board of Directors,  I would like to take this opportunity to remember that our anti-violence centers are the only organizations that welcome, listen to and support women without setting conditions, respecting their choices and recognizing their rights, in particular they are present when they are re-victimized by those institutional bodies that should be responsible for guaranteeing them the most adequate forms of protection - not only comforting them, but also finding with them the strength and tools to fight those who do not recognize the violence they have suffered and expose them to further dangers due to the inability to evaluate the related risk, an evaluation that instead characterizes the methodology of our centers" declares Cristina Carelli, president of D.i.Re - Women on the Net against violence. "The anti-violence centers of our Network are those that in Italy have started and favored the emergence of the phenomenon of male violence against women and, due to the political nature that distinguishes them, they also have the aim of influencing culture to attack the phenomenon at its roots.” continues Carelli. “It is important to remember that our anti-violence centers are not just service providers: they are above all places where actions are built to question the social system based on the constructs that feed the patriarchal culture in which violence is grafted.” concludes the president.

D.i.Re – Donne in Rete contro la violenza and Fondazione Giulia Cecchettin will meet soon to evaluate possible forms of collaboration, in particular on prevention issues – with particular reference to the younger generations.