One proposal is introducing Emotional Education as a mandatory subject in schools, in order to teach younger generations not only to respect members of the other sex, but also to other people. Immediately, this proposal came to the spotlight of public and political opinions, and in some cases not in a positive way. Some people saw this suggestion as a mean of gender-indoctrination in schools, depicting men as potential murderers of their female partner, too weak to defend themselves from the brutal homicidal fury of their man.

What those people don't know is that Emotional Education had always been a hot topic by medias, experts have been arguing about its positive effects on children's and adult's mental wellbeing. Emotional Education is about identifying, labelling and controlling your own emotions autonomously, besides teaching respect and empathy toward the others. Many studies have proved how being empathic is crucial to succeed both personally and professionally, while at the same time guaranteeing a healthier mindset to our children. Today's problem with this kind of murders isn't the fact that all the victims are women, but the fact that they are killed by their partners. There's a problem in our relationships, an error that is still considered as normal in today's society. Love described as possession of the partner is still depicted, if not encouraged, in nowadays medias, and still today many teens state that it's normal being jealous or possessive in a relationship. But love isn't about possession, it's about enjoying life moments with the one you love, caring for the other's and your own feelings and boundaries. Empathy is crucial in today's society, and teaching children both at school and at home can guarantee them healthy relationships in their future.

Angela B.

The increasing number of cases of violence against women nowadays is simply unacceptable. Every day we hear news of women who have suffered physical or psychological violence, stalking, sexual harassment and abuse of all kinds.

There are many cases of violence that have struck me, including the case of Giulia Tramontano, who was seven months pregnant and killed by her partner, or the Circeo massacre, a horrible case of violence done to two girls in the 1970s, and more recently, the case of Giulia Cecchettin, killed by her ex-boyfriend, and there would be many others, their names should all be remembered.

25 November is the day against violence against women, it is a day where men and women gather in the squares to demonstrate for women's rights, and of course it is also a time to remember women who are unfortunately no longer with us and to stand by those who suffer every day, perhaps because of a violent husband, making them understand that they are not alone and that this is not love.

To effectively fight violence against women, it is crucial that the government takes concrete and targeted measures. Firstly, sufficient resources should be invested in prevention, training and awareness-raising on the topic of gender-based violence. Information campaigns should be organised to educate people about respect, gender equality and non-violence.

Furthermore, in my opinion, much stricter laws should be adopted to punish perpetrators of violence against women because almost always, in Italy, the sentences to be served are too short and not fair.

In conclusion, we need to fight gender stereotypes and promote a culture of equality, mutual respect and awareness of women's rights.

Matilda C.

Recently Italy has suffered the loss of a young girl, Giulia Cecchettin, who was abducted and murdered by her ex-boyfriend Filippo. Giulia is one of the many victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence occurs in a relationship when one partner takes control and abuses their significant other psychologically or physically. Victims often find it hard to speak up and report the violence; after all it must be devastating to admit that they are being hurt by the person who is supposed to love them the most. But domestic abuse is not the only type of violence that women experience. Sexual harassment is the most common cruelty that women are subjected to. A survey has shown that 97% have experienced sexual harassment at least once in their lives. Because it has become so common, it is often overlooked and justified.

Despite violence against women being so widespread, proper preventive measures still haven’t been taken. A suggestion is to educate children from an early age about this subject. Some people may argue that the matter is too delicate to be discussed with children, when that is actually why it is so important that they are introduced to it almost immediately. That way they become sensitive to the issue and learn to create a safe environment for everyone. Educating children is a moral measure, the legal one is to create stricter laws that punish the attackers. Every form of violence or harassment, no matter how severe it is, should have a consequence. Only that can ensure safety and equality between genders.

The 25th of November is the International Day for the elimination of Violence against Women; however, that is an issue that people should reflect upon every single day in order to fight it and finally eliminate it.

Simona F.

But obviously there must be an explanation to all of this. Well, in the last decades women have been trying to gain their independence both economically and socially, and reach a complete emancipation in a still male-dominated society. As a matter of fact, almost every European woman can aim for the same roles and gratifications as a man and by doing so she can be completely independent from her husband or fiancé and eventually earn enough to support the family. In short, nowadays, men don't have a prominent role in the family or in the couple anymore and this can lead to either equality and satisfaction - in best cases - or insane competition and repression caused by a sense of uselessness and insecurity. In these extreme and anomalous cases men get jealous and possessive towards their partners and try to regain power and control over them either by committing violence or even a homicide.

So it’s all up to the person who stands by your side because even loving has become dangerous. That’s why I think violence against women can’t be completely eliminated : it is something in some way impressed in our culture and nature. It is true that men are physically stronger than women and they can hurt someone simply with a punch, but sometimes violence can also be verbal and kill you slowlier than a shot or a stabbing. In fact since women are used to be underestimated and considered as the weaker gender, men try to belittle their partners to make them feel useless.

Said that we can always take some possible measures to at least reduce the cases of violence. To begin with we should introduce self-defense classes at school, in order to be prepared to every situation and feel safer. Or we could invite psychologists to take lessons about feelings and relationships, in order to recognise a toxic one and end it before it gets dangerous. Another important measure can be to make the punishments harsher in order to discourage the act.

In conclusion violence against women is a shame and a real act of inhumanity especially in a modern and developed society like ours. Women shouldn’t be punished because they choose to be free.

Angelica G.

Now, the victims have increased and unfortunately there are more and more women who suffer for appallingly harmful acts perpetrated by their partners. Why does this happen? What bring this men to kill their beloved one? These questions need to be answered by anyone, and everyone must find a way to protect women. The main reasons why men take the decision to murder their partners, are jealousy, reject of breakup , control and many more. But no one knows how to stop these horrible crimes. There is a phone number, the “1522”, that is the number to call if you are a girl victim of stalking or violence, but women rarely reports acts of violence because they are afraid of retaliation .

Prevention of such crimes could be carried out through advertising campaigns in favour of anti-violence centres. November 25th has been acknowledged as the international day for the elimination of violence against women, and number 1522 popped out almost everywhere, but this is not enough: in order to reach the greatest number of potential victims, this number should be advertised even more massively. Also governments must do something, like helping girls and women all around the world to feel safe and comfortable when they are on their own. They should care more about these crimes, in order to prevent them. They can make harder punishment for the offenders, like life sentence, because someone can change, but some others not, so what will happen if they release a criminal potentially prone to repeat these hideous acts?

Unfortunately, nowadays it is very difficult to eliminate violence against women, but we must find a way. We can't take any more. By now the victims have been 106.

Irene G.

Men who claim to love the women they used to call "theirs" were once more than friends of those who will later on hit, insult, and -too many times- kill. Over the last year, 110 women have been killed in Italy by their husbands, lovers, or ex-boyfriends. Every single one of these men said that it was all for love. However, it is not the truth. Love is not about being possessive, abusive, or hurting the other. Love does not kill. It should heal you, your heart, and your mind. Even if it makes you feel miserable sometimes, it's still a beautiful feeling, a wonderful experience that should not destroy you.

A problem as big as these men who think they have the right to take women's lives, is society. These assassins are too often upheld and justified by journalists, politicians, and other people. They defend these murderers, justifying their actions by stating that they were too in love to think straight and regret doing what they did. The government could intervene in many ways, though everything should start from them. The politicians should be the first ones to point out the problem and not hide it. Education should be improved, as kids have little information on this subject. This way, future generations could become more open-minded about the topic. The assassins could also be punished more severely, for instance with a life sentence (which in Italy is rarely used for these crimes).

Nevertheless, the biggest change should come from people's ideas and mentality. Unluckily, I do not think that the situation will change soon enough.

Alessandra F.

Personally, I believe that this is an extremely important day not only for women but for everyone. Violence against women is an important issue that comes from a very distant past, but still in the present day we hear of many cases of sexual abuse or even feminicide. From my point of view, before anything else is important to denounce any violence or abuse that someone has reported. Unfortunately many women are afraid to denounce because of the economical consequences or because someone is threatening them. In these cases I believe that the victim’s friends and family members are crucial because they can intervene and report the offender to the authorities.

As we can notice from the latest news society has failed to prevent the feminicide again. In order to prevent this crimes I believe that the government should take some decisive measures especially in the field of the sentences given to the culprit. It’s also important that the authorities such as the police are always available to help and that they take in consideration any kind of charge given. In this cases education is essential. Not only at home but also in scholar time there should be lessons dedicated to this matter as a way to teach teenagers what to do in these circumstances.

In conclusion, I believe that this is a very important day in which everyone should take at least at minute in order to reflect about this issue and think how one can help to solve it.

Kaja L.

The victims of these acts are not merely statistics but individuals whose lives have been shattered, we need a response from both society and the government. The people behind the statistics have lived through pain and fear. These acts of brutality not only inflict physical harm but also leave indelible scars that affect the mental health of the survivors. Often people think that women go through these situations because they are weak, because they don’t fight back, but it is definitely more complicated than that.

Preventing such crimes requires a multi-faceted approach. Law and law enforcements must ensure that victims have access to effective support systems. This includes reporting mechanisms, confidential counselling services, and legal aid to facilitate the pursuit of justice. Functioning protective orders and implementing penalties for offenders can act as deterrents, sending a clear message that violence against women will not be tolerated.

Additionally, the government should invest in resources for shelters and safe spaces, providing refuge for women seeking to escape abusive situations by establishing a comprehensive network of support. A cultural shift is the only option to have women living freely and not discriminated against. The government must prioritise education and awareness campaigns to start a cultural shift, challenging harmful norms and stereotypes that perpetuate gender-based violence. Schools and communities should actively engage in promoting healthy relationships, consent education, and bystander intervention to empower individuals to recognize and prevent violence. Men are also impacted by the violence that they perpetrate. They could live better and healthier if they knew how to cohabit with their emotions and insecurities. In conclusion, the recent wave of violence against women in Italy demands a swift and decisive response.

It is imperative for society to work towards a future where every woman can live free from violence. In Italy since 2015 almost one thousand women have been femicide victims and these numbers are not tolerable anymore.

Isabella B.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is linked to the general goal of achieving gender equality. By highlighting the disproportionate impact of violence on women, it underscores the need for societal changes toward equal opportunities, treatment, and respect for all genders. The victims of violence against women bear the weight of a deeply rooted societal issue that requires a global response. Governments must prioritize the implementation of measures that address the root causes of gender-based violence and create an environment where women can live free from fear. Prevention begins with education. Governments should invest in educational programs that challenge gender stereotypes, promote respect and equality, and belief a culture of consent. By instilling these values early on, societies can work towards dismantling the toxic norms that contribute to violence against women. I think governments should establish fund support services, including hotlines, shelters, and should have the goal to assist victims and survivors. Legislation plays a key role in combating gender-based violence. Governments must review and strengthen existing laws, ensuring they are enforceable, and provide adequate protection for victims. They must also create new laws to try to destroy this fundamentally patriarchal society. On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, let us collectively advocate for a world where every woman can live free from the threat of violence. Governments must play a central role in spearheading legislative, educational, and societal changes that ensure the safety, dignity, and equality of women everywhere.

Rebecca L.

One of the key factors contributing to violence against women is gender inequality. Stereotypes often perpetuate harmful behaviours towards women, creating an environment where violence can thrive. The majority of cases of femicide it’s always a violent man suffering from jealousy who commits the crime. It happens frequently that the victim is persecuted and psychologically tortured, seeing his or her own freedom being pushed away. Supporting survivors is another crucial aspect of addressing violence against women. Providing access to safe spaces, counseling services, and legal support can help survivors heal and rebuild their lives. It's important to create a supportive and empathetic environment where survivors feel empowered to come forward and ask for help.

In addition, education plays an important role in preventing violence against women. By teaching young people about consent, healthy relationships, and respect, we can help stop the violence and promote a culture of equality and respect. Violence against women is an issue that demands immediate action from the government; it should create laws and that protect women from violence. These laws should clearly define different forms of violence, establish penalties and provide support and justice for survivors. In conclusion, violence against women is an issue that requires collective action. By raising awareness, implementing comprehensive laws, challenging gender norms, supporting survivors, and promoting education, we can work towards a society where women are safe and respected.

With the help of everyone , we can make a difference and create a world free from violence where women are not scared of men because they know they can live without thinking their lives are in danger and finally live peacefully.

Chiara S.

Violence against Women is a serious issue that affects many lives. In fact, around 45 thousand women are killed every year in the world, or 5 every hour and many others suffer acts of violence. One of the latest cases was that of Giulia Cecchettin, an Italian girl who was killed by her ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately it's a phenomenon that seems never destined to end, probably also due to the loose rules imposed by our government.

25th November is certainly a very significant day, but every day should be remembered how important it is not to commit acts of violence against women. Furthermore, the government should impose more severe measures in order to try to eliminate this form of violence: an example would be introducing life imprisonment as a punishment for those who kill a woman.

Nowadays in Italy the length of the sentence inflicted for voluntary homicide is 12.4 years, despite the fact that the Code provides for a minimum of 21 years to life imprisonment. Even for those who mistreat a woman without killing her the sentence should be increased. Another solution could be to educate children in schools, from middle school to high school, in order to raise their awareness on this issue. In fact nowadays we almost never talk about this topic in schools.

Manuel F.

This is a serious issue that females cannot live in peace in a country where they have all the rights to live peacefully and safely and not with the fear of being assaulted or abused by men. Many times these crimes are committed because of “love”, where a man kills her partner because of jealousy, possession or madness. There are other forms of violence (not less important) that unfortunately happen everyday in families and couples, such as verbal and physical abuse, where a woman is attacked by her partner who is abusive and violent. In a lot of cases like these of course the victims are afraid to speak and report this to the authorities.

So the Italian government (and all the governments) should give some solutions to this huge problem, because this violence can degenerate into femicide. Possible solutions could be prevention and education. Another effective measure that could help to solve this issue is to create free talking group sessions where women in difficulty can speak openly and report their abuses. If the problem persists, the government should actually impose harsher sentences for the offenders, because it’s appalling what is happening almost everyday.

Anyway, I believe we need to prioritize a change of mind in a male-dominated world in order to put an end to these horrible crimes and help women live as they like, without any fear of ending up in dangerous relationships.

Luca R.

Governments should teach people from a young age that hurting others, especially women, is never good. They should make strong laws against hurting women and make sure these laws are enforced well. When someone hurts a woman, they should be punished, and the punishment should be fair and strong. This sends a message that violence won't be tolerated.

Governments also need to support women who have faced violence. This means having safe places (like shelters) for them to go to, and to help them heal. It's not just the government's job; everyone should help. Families, schools, and communities can teach respect and equality. If we all work together, we can create a world where women feel safe and are treated with dignity.

In the end, the "Wounded to Death" performance reminds us that violence against women is a big issue, but by working together and making changes in how we think and act, we can build a safer and more respectful world for everyone.

Giulia M.

Unfortunately almost every woman has had a case of verbal or physical violence from one or more men and it is a scary thing for every woman. It is very important to fight against this type of violence because every woman or every girl should be able to wear as they want, to talk to whoever they want and so on. The government must give justice to all the women victims of violence. It is essential to toughen penalties for those who commit these crimes.

If the government makes it more difficult for the offenders there will be fewer cases of violence like that and women would live more serenely. Every woman or girl should be able to refuse their consent to their partner anytime she wants, without being scared of doing that. Women should be able to go out with their friends whenever they want, they can’t stay at home only because their partners don't want them to go out. Girls should not be forced to do what they don't want to, even if their partners don't like their self-determination . We want to break free so we need to stand up for our rights and fight against gender inequality.

We need to stay together, fight and shout out loud.

Francesca C.