Also this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation joins the international mobilisation campaign on the occasion of the day for the elimination of violence against women. As stated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, ‘Italy must be at the forefront in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, especially in preventing and combating all forms of discrimination and violence against women’.
This year the theme will be brought to the G7 Foreign Ministerial in Fiuggi-Anagni. On 25 November, during the ministerial meeting, a ‘red bench’ – in memory of women victims of violence and their lost lives – will be inaugurated with a commemorative plaque by the Foreign Ministers present at the Municipal Theatre of Fiuggi, whose façade will be lit orange for the occasion.
The initiative confirms the attention that Italy, as the G7 Presidency, wanted to devote to the issue of preventing and combating violence against women and girls, especially in the many conflict situations where sexual violence is also used as a weapon of war.
On the instructions of Minister Tajani, the Farnesina and its foreign network are also joining the ‘Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!’ campaign, promoted by UN Women, which kicks off 16 days of initiatives alongside civil society. For the occasion, the Farnesina will be coloured orange on 25 November.
The elimination of violence against women and support for women’s emancipation are confirmed as among the pillars of Italian foreign policy and development cooperation. Evidence of this are the numerous international campaigns, such as those for the eradication of female genital mutilation and early and forced marriages, which have always seen Italy in the front line, and our commitment in the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Also within the framework of the UN Agenda ‘Women, Peace and Security’, Italy, through a specific National Action Plan, is at the forefront among UN Member States, promoting initiatives aimed at fostering the full participation of women in all conflict prevention and resolution activities, such as that of the Network of Women Mediators in the Mediterranean, launched by Italy in 2017.
The recent Italian Cooperation Guidelines on gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls and children aim, in this sense, to further intensify our commitment through specific initiatives ranging from women’s, maternal, sexual and reproductive health, to support for programmes in favour of girls’ and women’s education.
At Minister Tajani’s request, the Farnesina has dedicated to the memory of Giulia Cecchettin, who was the victim of a feminicide on the eve of her engineering degree, the Farnesina scholarship programme for young international talents ‘Invest Your Talent in Italy’, which combines highly specialised courses in engineering, economics or architecture at Italian universities with training periods in Italian companies.
(Courtesy translation, machine based – in case of doubts the Italian version shall be considered authentic)
