Gender-based violence, the situation in the words of specialized associations

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1999, this year it holds particular significance in Italy. As of January 2023, according to the latest report from the Ministry of the Interior released on November 20 and updated weekly, 106 women have lost their lives in our country. Of these, 87 were killed within the family or intimate relationships, with 55 at the hands of their current or former partners. We fear that by the next report on November 27/28, this number will have risen. What can be done? Inform, talk, share, challenge, and seek help to dismantle patriarchy from its foundations. In this article, you'll find a summary of available organizations, both local and online, to contact if you feel in danger or if something seems wrong in your relationship or family. Additionally, there are insights and perspectives shared by some representatives and co-founders of these organizations for everyone to read, ponder, and consider.

Re:B Collective: Gender-based violence in the field of communication and advertising

The first organization we spoke with, represented by co-founder Tania Loschi, is also the youngest. Re:B Collective was established in June 2023 following a significant upheaval in the world of advertising agencies in Milan and Italy. First, a striking case, and then a cascade of hundreds of shared testimonies on Instagram. What has changed since June? "There have been no consequences. It seems that the advertising sector is more focused on defending itself and its reputation than the people working in it," said Tania. Consequently, Re:B Collective has activated a "free online listening center and physical center nationwide."

Tania raises a legislative issue: "In our country, there is no crime of harassment, which is often categorized under other offenses (including sexual violence in more severe cases or downgraded to private violence in minor cases). This creates a legal vacuum, a gray area where each judge proceeds at their discretion," and she sends a clear message and invitation: "The solution is to educate men. Stop blaming women and demand that men take responsibility. We need to dismantle the patriarchal culture in which our country is immersed."

MamaChat: The importance of awareness

The second organization we had the pleasure of speaking with is called MamaChat. In the words of its co-founder and CEO, Margherita Fioruzzi: "MamaChat is an association born in 2017. We were the first online service in Europe to offer free and anonymous listening in case of difficulties. Specifically, we were created with the goal of providing women and girls with a listening ear and the opportunity to speak with a professional who could guide them locally and help them become aware and start a healing journey." Behind MamaChat is a team of female psychologists "trained to handle any type of request and accompany women based on their level of awareness and severity." The most difficult and essential thing? According to Margherita: "Stepping out of your comfort zone and asking for help. We help you do it without asking you to expose yourself because we know that sometimes it's complicated; you don't know if you might be seen, heard, judged, etc. We accompany you in this awareness."

The secret? Simply, the tool of anonymous chat, which operates during specific hours: "The chat allows us to connect with the victim of violence or the person in difficulty, making them feel in a safe space. We try to encourage motivation in the victim to seek help." Margherita says about the new generations: "They are much more sensitive to the theme of mental well-being; they are much more accustomed to chewing on this type of language. The fact that we talk more and more widely about these issues allows us to break some taboos." However, there is a problem of jealousy: "Girls are often hyper-jealous, hyper-protective, hyper-possessive. Staying in a healthy relationship with this attitude is difficult. If you find yourself in a toxic relationship at 14, 15, 16, in your early experiences, then you think it's normal." "It's the cycle of violence; a victim doesn't see and can't see themselves as a victim if they remain in the relationship," she adds. The solution to physical, emotional, and psychological violence lies in talking about it: "We need to open the dialogue; we need to talk more and more about control, manipulation, economic violence, all those signs that are as big as a house and are part of a pre-escalation."

ActionAid: Prevention should start with institutions and politics

ActionAid is an international organization dedicated to protecting rights and has been advocating for women and girls in Italy and worldwide for years. This year, on the occasion of Black Friday, it launched the Black FreeDay campaign to denounce the cut in funds for gender-based violence prevention in the past year and to draw attention to the contradictions regarding the underfunding of anti-violence policies in Italy. According to ActionAid, prevention has never been a priority for any government over the years. The few dedicated funds have been concentrated in certain periods, such as 2022, only to be cut again.

A strong denouncement against a systemic problem that needs to be prevented with the help of institutions and politics. This is precisely the focus of ActionAid Italy, as explained by Isabella Orfano, women's rights expert: "The organization wants to promote a series of policies and interventions that must bring about socio-cultural change so that behaviors that can lead to violence against women by men are no longer produced or reproduced." According to Isabella, primary prevention should also involve schools, with educational materials that are inclusive and activities for female empowerment. But ActionAid's push doesn't stop there: "Secondary prevention includes training activities for all those who come into contact with victims or perpetrators of violence: law enforcement, the judiciary, healthcare, the third sector, etc. Tertiary prevention, finally, consists of everything that ensures the safety of women who have experienced violence and reduces the rate of recurrence in perpetrators of violence. These are urgent protective measures, coercive precautionary measures, programs for perpetrators of violence." ActionAid adheres to this layered prevention model, working on the ground through projects in schools, awareness-raising movements, and collaborative efforts with young people, teachers, families, and local institutions.

BeFree: A cooperative in the community

BeFree is a social cooperative established in 2007 by professionals experienced in gender issues and the fight against gender-based violence. Federica Scrollini, responsible for training, told us about the journey this cooperative has undertaken since its foundation, noting that "in these 16 years, the general situation has changed a lot, awareness has increased, laws have changed, and there is a different focus on the issue. But we are far from that profound socio-cultural change that will mitigate and eliminate violence by men against women. BeFree's anti-violence centers and shelters follow about a thousand women every year. We need more investments and funds." Even as things improve, one should never let their guard down: "Violence remains unrecognizable. Patriarchal culture normalizes it. While we have made progress with stereotypes, we face a significant challenge in aspects such as jealousy, possession, confusion between love and control. We need to change everything, and we need to do it now in every public place: from parliament to the supermarket, from the hospital to the mass media." BeFree strongly advocates for the importance of working in the community: "The territorial network is essential to counteract violence and build a path together. This network includes not only institutional entities but also third-sector organizations, schools, hospitals, associations of merchants. Building the network is also an awareness-raising action regarding the phenomenon: the more entities involved, the safer the territories become for everyone."

Viola Walk Home: From the app to Punti Viola against street violence

Eleonora Sironi told us about the experience of VIOLA, a feminist start-up born from the DonneXStrada association. The focus? "Working on safety and the perception of safety so that everyone feels safe on the street. The innovative part lies in the use of social media and the use of technology, through our VIOLA app, to prevent gender-based violence and make people feel safer and part of a community." The idea comes from the founder and psychologist Laura De Dilectis after the Sarah Everard case. The service quickly became European. "This very rapid growth," says Eleonora, "first demonstrated how the service is needed everywhere and allowed us to develop the app, officially available from December 15 and already downloadable in beta from our website. In a year, we received hundreds of volunteer applications and created a strong and united team of people who want a safer society for everyone." The experience of Viola Walk Home is particularly interesting because it combines online and offline, thanks to the creation of Punti Viola, safe public places to welcome women victims of street violence.

 And all the others

Viola Walk Home, BeFree, ActionAid Italy, Re:B Collective, and MamaChat are certainly not the only entities in Italy. They are joined by Di:Re, Leaving Violence, Cadmi, Frida and many others. The goal is one: raise awareness, prevent, and help, from the grassroots with great effort, but also keeping in mind the urgency of the problem in all areas, its depth and pervasiveness. In addition to reaching out to these associations, organizations, and cooperatives, we can also promote them on social media, recommend them to friends in need, donate time and money. For us, but also for our sisters.