Violence against women will be a major issue at the G20 scheduled for November in Brazil. The working group in charge of the issue met this Tuesday in Rome.
The emancipation of women, key subject of the Italian working group at the G20
Violence against women remains a major social issue, in Italy as in other countries. To combat this phenomenon, Women 20 (W20), one of the G20’s independent engagement groups, is looking into the issue. The delegates in charge of this issue were able to discuss together this Tuesday, at the invitation of the Italian working group, in order to prepare the summit which will be held in November in Brazil.
On the agenda, how to promote the emancipation of women, but also the European directive currently being developed, which aims to combat violence against women, but raises the question of a lack of common definition of rape .
“The Women 20 launches an appeal to reject the European directive which will be voted on by Parliament in April”,says Linda Laura Sabbadini, president of Women20 2021. “We want it repealed because it does not include rape and sexual abuse in the workplace. This also means it contravenes the requirements of the Istanbul Convention.”
Gender-based violence must be on the political agenda
According to recent studies, the situation in Italy remains as critical as in the rest of Europe. If the Italian state has not blocked the criminalization of rape at the European Union level, there is still much to do to fight against all forms of gender-based violence.
“At this stage, the Italian government must show consistency”, continues the former head of the working group. “If Italy voted to criminalize rape in Europe, Italian laws must be amended. We must win both on the European front and in Italy.”
Despite the increase in funds allocated to organizations dedicated to violence against women, “feminicide”, defined as the “murder of a woman because of her sex”, is not yet recognized as a crime in its own right by Italian criminal law.
Femicide, largely absent from Italian criminal law
“I think we are now paying more attention to this issue,” believes Martina Semenzato, President of the parliamentary committee on violence against women. “And it’s not because the topics of women being killed by their partners are making headlines, but rather because not only women, but also men, have become more aware of the problem.”
_”_The Italian delegation which met this Tuesday at the Italian Parliament will take part in the Women20 planned in Brazil.says Georgia Orlandi, Euronews correspondent in Rome. “The objective, to bring Italian expertise and experience on issues related to gender inequalities. The Brazilian presidency of the working group is committed to tackling gender-based violence, which will be a theme center of the summit”.
