The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has released the following statement:
«Violence against women is recording alarming numbers.
It is a behaviour that has no justification; it is rooted in inequalities, gender stereotypes and cultures that tolerate or minimize abuse, which often also occurs within the family.
The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence – also known as the Istanbul Convention – is the first legally binding instrument to recognize gender-based violence as a violation of human rights.
Italy ratified the Convention in 2013, endowing itself with protection measures affording full protection to the victims of gender-based violence.
However, everything that has been done up to now is not sufficient to protect women – also very young ones – who continue to see their rights violated. It is an ongoing emergency. They are mothers, sisters, daughters, and persons with dreams and plans that see their right to live a free and dignified life violated; women who fight for their independence, for the capacity to choose their own destiny.
“No excuse” is the theme proposed by the United Nations to mark this International Day.
Therefore, it is unnecessary to underscore that this means that there are no acceptable excuses that justify gender-based violence. We need concrete action..
It is essential to continue to work to eradicate prejudice and discriminatory attitudes that keep on making women weaker within society, on the job and in the family. Institutions and civil society organizations must support women in reporting any type of abuse, affording them protection and an adequate support.
Acting to fully guarantee the human rights of the female universe is a value for the whole of society. »
