Rome, May 12 (beraking latest news Salute) – The pandemic has held back the economy and culture but has not stopped, indeed it has increased exponentially, the manifestations of violence against women and against women. ‘Violence’, purposely in the plural, which in most cases takes place within the home, in ‘affective’ and family relationships. Above all domestic violence, which has increased all over the world. In the Covid era, forced coexistence with one’s tormentors has further worsened the situation, making the possibility of asking for help, defending oneself and fleeing even more complex. This is why Fondazione Onda, the National Observatory on Women’s and Gender Health, has launched a campaign that starts in May to reach its climax in the week of November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against women established by the United Nations General Assembly.
The campaign (https://ondaeravatorio.it/it/progetto/laviolenza-ha-molti-volti/) – reports a note – will travel mainly through the web, especially through social networks (Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and Youtube) , with a series of videos that will aim to bring attention to this painful and dramatic problem. There are numerous testimonials of the campaign that belong to the world of culture, entertainment, science, innovation and sport. They have the task of launching a clear and concise awareness message with a short video of about a minute and a half to simply say ‘enough’. The intent is to offer one’s contribution to change ideas, thoughts, stereotypes, prejudices, actions and oppressions. To change the point of view of everyone and everyone in a radical way, to change the news.
At the moment, several scientists, science communicators, journalists, exponents of the world of culture, university, sport and associations have already joined. “Violence against women – says Francesca Merzagora, president of Fondazione Onda – has increased all over the world: in China by 300%, in Lebanon by 45%, in the UK they have doubled compared to the average of the last 10 years, just to mention three countries. Even in our country we are witnessing a progression (just look at the Istat data) of this phenomenon that needs to be stopped. With the philosopher and essayist Nicla Vassallo we conceived this campaign, which was joined by prominent personalities, intellectuals committed to the protection of human and civil rights but also sportsmen and celebrities, men and women. We hope it will be a disruptive campaign. Why are we leaving now? Because violence takes place every day and must be condemned every day “.
“Since last March – declared Nicla Vassallo – I have wondered more than usual about the fate of women. I tried to make myself a sort of ‘fresco’ in pandemic times: they, we closed and locked up in homes. Without escape. 2020 it turned out to be an annus horribilis, which revealed, as if it still felt the need, that violence takes place within the family context, in more than 80% of cases. The situation was already dramatically clear. And every day it is. becomes, to the point that one is surprised if no daily news appears on some media or social media, or some exploitation. And, then, when one finds the courage to report the crime immediately, one ends up in the absurd condition of having to prove that she was not an accomplice, that she was not ‘active’, because women must be passive, that they did not immediately say, even hours in advance, ‘no’ “.
“I have also wondered more than ever about girls. Their fate at the time of this pandemic?”, Continues Vassallo. “The friend and cousin of the parents, the father. Abused, molested, raped. Locked up. In my day you could swim, ski, play, go to school. What can you imagine, hypothesize? Few data? . Who delivers whom into the hands of the executioner? As a child you can’t even envisage the possibility of asking for help. The rest goes without saying. It’s not just about wounds, as long as you survive. It’s about trauma – she concludes – a who will always and forever miss the person he was, the child, the girl, the woman who had not yet been raped. All this goes beyond anguish. With thanks to everyone and everyone “.