violence against women

Violence against women: a cultural problem

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With regressive attitudes growing amongst the young, how do we build a future of prevention?


Yesterday, 25th November, marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, established by the UN in 1999. However, reflection and action cannot be confined to a single day.

Tragically, not a day passes without news of a femicide. And if not explicitly, then there are reports of online violence, manipulation, oppression, and the absence of equal opportunities. In other words, there are constant attempts to silence and diminish the female figure.

It is a sobering thought that this violence was only formally recognised as a violation of human rights in 1993, with the adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (DEVAW) by the UN General Assembly. This was further reinforced by the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, which also acknowledged it as a human rights violation.

Right. Formally recognised only in 1993…

Violence against women: data and context


The data on femicides are not just ‘crime news,’ but the last, tragic link in a chain. According to Istat, over 31% of women in Italy have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime (from the age of 16). Furthermore, the European Parliament states that one in three women in the EU has experienced physical violence, sexual violence, or threats as an adult.

United Nations data indicate that one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by an intimate partner or family member.

Femicide is the culmination of violence that often began much earlier. We need to talk about it to recognise the signs long before it is too late.

As Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, insightfully notes:

“For the first time in history, repeated studies are suggesting that the most misogynistic, outdated, regressive attitudes towards women and girls are now the most common amongst the youngest.”

Dismantling stereotypes: the “I didn’t expect that.”


How many times have we heard “but he was a good guy”? It is time to dismantle this dangerous cliché. The “monster” does not exist; what exists is the “normal” man who does not accept rejection and who considers a woman his property. Violence lies there, in pathological jealousy, in control, in stalking. We must learn to recognise these red flags, because there is no such thing as a “violent look”.

A focus on prevention: what can we actually do?


Beyond indignation, we need prevention. Prevention means sexual and emotional education in schools, to teach respect and how to manage emotions. It means supporting anti-violence centres, which save lives every day. It means, for each of us, not looking the other way when we hear a worrying argument from a neighbour. Violence is fought with culture.

Yet, in Italy, the government appears to disagree with this approach. Indeed, Minister Roccella has stated that there is no data to prove that sexual and emotional education in schools helps to prevent violence.

Final thoughts: violence against women is a cultural problem


Before we conclude, we also want to suggest reading a powerful testimony written by one of our friends—a heartbreaking story of abuse that sheds light on the real, everyday consequences of this cultural problem. (Find it here.)

As we reflect on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we must be clear that the problem is systemic. Women start from a disadvantaged position, as we are still considered a possession of men—whether husbands, partners, or family members. We are still considered less than men.

The subordination or perceived inferiority of women is the oldest prejudice in human history.

Violence against women is a cultural problem. And fighting it requires an everyday commitment—especially in a society facing cultural regression.

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Gender-Based Violence: An Enduring Millennial Epidemic

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International day for the elimination of violence against women


Gender-based violence is not just a social issue – it is a global, enduring millennial epidemic. As we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we confront an unsettling reality: the numbers are not receding – they are growing.

Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed.

The United Nations starkly outlines this crisis:

“Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. For at least 51,100 women in 2023, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act—their murder by partners and family members. That means a woman was killed every 10 minutes.”

So, this sobering reality spans across all societies and regions. The scourge of violence is not confined to the home; it has infiltrated workplaces, online spaces, and communities, exacerbated by conflicts, economic insecurity, and even climate change.

Femicide: the extreme manifestation of gender violence


“Femicide” is the term used to describe gender-related killings of women and girls. So, the most extreme manifestation of gender-based violence. The 2023 statistics are staggering:
1- 140 women and girls were killed daily, on average, by someone within their family.
2- Africa was the region with the largest absolute number of killings and with the highest level of violence relative to the size of its female population.
3- Unlike male homicides, often occurring in public spaces, the home remains the most dangerous place for women.

Therefore, this chilling reality underscores a devastating truth: for women and girls, safety is not a given – even in the spaces that should nurture them most.

Gender-based violence: Italy & the “good guy” illusion


In Italy, the murders of Giulia Cecchettin and Giulia Tramontano shattered a dangerous myth: that women are most at risk from strangers, lurking predators, or “monsters” we can easily identify. Instead, the threat often comes from someone far more familiar: the so-called “good guy.”

Giulia Cecchettin’s femicide laid bare the grim truth that partners, not strangers, are often the perpetrators of violence against women. Similarly, the case of Giulia Tramontano, seven months pregnant, poisoned with rodenticide and then murdered by her boyfriend, sent shockwaves through the nation. Today, Milano court sentenced her murderer to life imprisonment, but justice for one does not erase the systemic violence that continues to claim so many lives.

These cases force us to confront an uncomfortable reality: the perpetrator is rarely the deranged figure we imagine. He is ordinary – hidden in plain sight. Specifcally, a culture that normalizes control, entitlement, and violence shapes him.

Changing culture: the long road ahead


The pervasive nature of femicide challenges us to rethink our approach. The rapist or abuser is rarely the deranged figure we imagine. In fact, a culture of entitlement and patriarchy shape him into a man. This is a cultural problem, deeply rooted and insidious.

While education against discrimination from an early age is essential, it is not enough. Tackling gender-based violence requires a collective effort to build a culture of consent, equality, and respect. This cultural shift must begin with families and schools, laying the groundwork for future generations.

A call to action: dismantle patriarchy


As we observe this day, let it not be a moment of passive reflection but a call to action. We must confront the structures and attitudes that perpetuate violence against women. This fight requires more than legislation. It demands a shared commitment to dismantle patriarchy, educate with intention, and foster a culture where no woman fears for her life in the spaces she calls home.

The numbers are more than statistics – they are lives lost, stories cut short. And they demand our unwavering attention.

#noexcuse

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Violence Against Women

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A victim shares her story of abuse with us


Violence against women is gender-based violence, either physical, sexual or psychological. But economical too. In fact, it is a form of abuse very present in modern society in which patriarchy prevails.

Italy mourns the death of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin, found stabbed and wrapped in plastic on the 18th of November, 2023. She had been staying with ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta at the time. And he had been on the run since November 11 when security cameras got him fighting with Giulia on tape. Now, he’s been picked up by police in Germany.

With the necessary rise in awareness of gender-based discrimination and in honour of the 25th of November – the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women, we are taking the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the prevalence of these violating acts by telling one from an anonymous victim.

An ordinary report of abuse


22 November, 2023- 9:22, morning
The sky was overcast, and the tram screeched on the tracks, forcing her to push her headphones closer to her ears to block out the sound. Stepping into the sea of people, she took a deep breath, finding a small space for her to stand by the door. It wasn’t unusual that the public transit was this crowded in the morning. But the stress from days prior had really taken a toll on her. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, and the previous day, she had experienced a panic attack from overwork and stress. So it was safe to say that she didn’t think anything else could go wrong.

The ride was smooth for a while, people bumping into one another as the tram car took sharp turns. As the tram halted at its next stop, more people crowded in behind her, packing the tram so unbelievably full that it didn’t seem possible for the vehicle to keep moving. With a shove to her back, she found herself pushed against the wall of the tram. Even if she tried to move, it was useless. It was then that she felt the breath of someone behind her, a little too close, even in the crowded car.

With the shoving and moving of the sea of people, she felt a hand slip to the upper part of her leg, just under her rear end. No, she was not going to deal with this today. The hand searched, groping and feeling, sending the woman into a frenzied panic. Still stressed from the days before, she screamed, but to no avail. People couldn’t move. It was too tightly packed, and it’s not like anyone else could see what was happening. The tram slammed its brakes to a stop, and the person behind shoved her into the opening doors, sending her body flying toward the wall, smashing her arm between her own body and the sharp corner by the door opening.

Stop gender-based violence


As horrifying as this incident may be to hear about, this is an occurrence that is all too common. Men consistently harass women this way, especially on public transportation. Here it is easier for harassers to victimize others since the space is small, tightly packed, and sealed.

When speaking to other women about this issue, the common theme between all of them was empathy, sadness, and the common phrase ‘I can relate.’

What kind of world are we living in when such a tragedy is commonplace? Enough that the majority of women can relate?

This story is only one of thousands, millions. Women from all over have stories of situations just like this, harassed just because of their gender. Despite the progress made as women in the hierarchy of society, we must keep pushing forward, this is unfair. Violence against women needs to stop!

#NOEXCUSE

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