March on Rome addresses violence against women; but not all are welcome

By Sonia Malpeso

ROME, Nov 26- Despite the rain, an estimated 150,000 women marched on Rome Saturday afternoon to bring attention to violence against women, still a problem in Italy.

The “Violence against Women” march, leading from Rome's Piazza della Repubblica to Piazza Navona, was organized primarily via an an online petition by women's rights groups.

"The violence of men against women begins in the family and has no boundaries,” read the banner that led the march Saturday afternoon. Women's organizations from all over Italy attended the march, showing their support by holding colorful banners and chanting slogans.

Although, mostly a peaceful demonstration, tension arose shortly after the start of the march along Via Cavour when former Minister of Equal Opportunity Stefania Prestigiacomo, alongside Mara Cafagnia, marched with the crowd to show their support.

Prestigiacomo and Carfagnia, two representatives of the Right-leaning political party Forza Italy, were not welcomed, but rather were verbally challenged by surrounding protesters. “You are fascists! Not women! Leave the march!,” yelled a group of female protesters.

"Our presence here is not a provocation,” the ex-minister responded. “We are women. We do not have political flags in our hands.” But despite their efforts to fit in, the increasing opposition eventually forced them to exit the march. 

Saturday’s “Violence against Women” march was intended for female protesters only. The presence of male journalists and photographers was not taken lightly. “We are here to work and inform the public of your presence,” argued the male journalists, but they were eventually forced out of the crowd as well.

Despite the disputes, the march carried on until it reached Piazza Navona and concluded at 6:30 p.m.

According to recent statistics, every two days a woman in Italy is killed as the result of physical or sexual violence committed by men. In the first six months of this year alone, 57 women were murdered, along with 141 cases of attempted murder, 10,383 victims of injury, and 1,805 cases of abuse or sexual assault.

But this phenomenon is not solely confined within the borders of Italy; in Europe, male-aggravated violence is the highest cause of death for women between the ages of 15-60 years. On a global scale, male aggression has been documented by the United Nations as the primary cause of death and disability for women worldwide. 

For pictures of Saturday’s “Violence Against Women” march click here.