Do you remember the 25th of November?  It is the International Day for the Elimination of violence against women, which was established in 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly. This date reminds the day of the murder of three sisters who had tried to counter the dictator of the Dominican Republic. On November 25, 1960, they were kidnapped, tortured, massacred in a stick and finally strangled.  Every day all over the world women are victims of violent episodes such as harassment, battering, physical and verbal, rape, until they get to the murder (femicide). These episodes concern not only women, but also girls and unfortunately there are many who find the courage to denounce their aggressor who is often their husband, companion or father.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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According to Data ISTAT (National Institute of Statistics, which is the main producer of official statistics for Italy) in Italy almost 7 million of women have suffered a violence and almost a woman every three days is killed. In 2016 the victims of femicide were 120 and in the last 10 years the women killed were 1740 of which about 70% from a family member. Just the fact that violence comes from a family member determines the fact that not all violent episodes are denounced. Often the victims are afraid to suffer further violence after the complaint, or they are ashamed or think they can change the character of the violent family. Unfortunately, only recently have laws been introduced to protect women, but they still do not fully recognise psychological violence. In any case it is important to denounce any incident of violence to the authorities or to anti-violence centers that it is important to understand that the complaint is not alone.