The President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, denounced this Friday (8) the persistent harassment and discrimination against women during a ceremony at the Quirinale Palace, in Rome, on the occasion of “International Women’s Day”.
“Harassment, unacceptable pressure in the world of work, discrimination have been reported for years and are still frequent”, declared the Italian leader, adding that it is important “not to forget violence”.
“How can we fail to remember the victims of so many femicides, including in recent days?” asked Mattarella, referring to biomedical engineering student Giulia Cecchettin, 22, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta on November 11, 2023, in a case that shocked the nation.
Mattarella highlighted that, despite having said it many times, “a deep cultural intervention is necessary to ensure that everyone acquires an authentic sense of the relationship between man and woman. “Art is an effective engine for education and the transmission of life’s values,” she added.
According to him, “that is why today we pay tribute and express our gratitude to the artistic protagonism of women”.
“Unfortunately, in art as in so many other fields, to express themselves and realize their potential, women had to make an extra effort, an extra commitment, to bear an almost hidden and inexplicable burden in their activity”, he recalled.
Mattarella highlighted that it is “as if additional obligations were required of them and they had to continually undergo more rigorous examinations and trials”.
According to the Italian head of state, “this unfortunately well-known phenomenon has its roots in prejudices and stereotypes about women that continue to resurface even in societies that consider themselves more advanced”. (HANDLE).
