Italy: Marches and Protests To End Violence Against Women

29-11-2023

Laura Libertini

Human Rights and Europe Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence

On November 18th, in the Italian region of Friuli Venezia-Giulia, the dead body of Giulia, a 22-years old student who was about to graduate, was found on the shores of lake Barcis, near Pordenone. After being kidnapped by his ex-boyfriend between November 11th-12th, the girl has been ruthlessly murdered by him. According to official statements, he dragged her and loaded her into the trunk of his car after stabbing her 20 times - on the head, on the neck, on the hands and on the arms - he laid Giulia’s body under a large rock, covering it with black sacks. 

On Friday, November 24th, the courtyard of the Padua University, where Giulia studied biomedical engineering and was about to graduate right after her kidnapping, her father inaugurated the red bench in memory of all victims of violence against women, stating that “I want each one of us to look every day at what we can do to improve our own lives, not with respect to ourselves but to our loved ones, our neighbors, our friends, and above all to women […]”

The death of Giulia marked the 83rd femicide in Italy since the beginning of 2023. After her death, countless people reunited in the squares of the main Italian cities to remember Giulia and the all the victims of femicide. A first gathering took place on Sunday November 19th, while major protests took place on Saturday November 25th, honoring the international day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Throughout the Italian peninsula, countless events such as processions, runs, walks, flash mobs, sit-ins, fundraising and, above all, a lot of noise to denounce the death of Giulia and all the women victims of gender-based violence and discrimination.

Sources and Further Readings:

ANSA (2023, November 25). Shocked by Giulia's murder, Italy marks violence against women day. ANSA. Retrieved on 29/11/2023 by https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2023/11/25/shocked-by-giulia-murder-italy-marks-violence-on-women-day_65e645b2-af85-4a08-9ef5-5a90ecdb7c55.html 

La Repubblica (2023, November 18) Giulia Cecchettin è stata uccisa con coltellate alla testa e al collo. Poi lanciata in un dirupo. Turetta in fuga, l'auto avvistata in Austria. La Repubblica. Retrieved on 29/11/2023 by https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2023/11/18/diretta/giulia_cecchettin_filippo_turetta_ultime_notizie-420646105/