We can no longer hear casual phrases or the usual advice to women on how to defend themselves.
When will we start to address the problem properly? Treating it for what it is: a structural phenomenon, rooted in the patriarchal male culture that wants to keep women in a condition of subordination, fear and submission. Until true prevention programs and measures are planned and implemented, we will have to continue counting. As activists of anti-violence centers we support women in their journey out of violence and in activating prevention programmes, but a systemic approach is also needed by the State, as it should be and as expressed very clearly in the Concluding remarks on Italy's eighth report on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
"We will continue to count and feel pain mixed with anger if the only actions taken on the topic of male violence against women are only those of anti-violence centers, both in terms of prevention and contrast” declares Antonella Veltri, president D.i.Re – Women online against violence. “Every time we read comments and narratives that put the woman at the centre, trying to understand how she could have saved herself to escape the death caused by man” continues Veltri. “And why are we once again intervening after a crime has already occurred and never starting with a serious and structured training and education campaign? Because preventing violence against women means avoiding feminicides and the propaganda and proclamations of this government are not enough. We need more, much more. When?" concludes the president.
“After yet another femicide we are still here wondering what happened to the words of those who, in the aftermath of the killing of Giulia Cecchettin, promised a cultural change” declares Mariangela Zanni, national councilor D.i.King. “The 40 million announced with the budget law have not yet been distributed and we do not know when and if they will arrive at the centers” continues Zanni. “We operate facing a surge in requests for help, but under the same conditions as always. The Ministry of Education program for courses in schools did not involve us, we do not have a national anti-violence plan which expired last year. We have thought that a change of pace has been necessary for some time, which we have not yet seen” concludes the councilor.