The Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City has inaugurated a red bench in the waiting area of its premises, joining the initiative launched by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, which calls for the installation of red benches across the network of Italian diplomatic and consular posts worldwide as a symbol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to countering all forms of violence and discrimination against women, both in Italy and around the world.
Consul General Alessandra Tognonato recalled Minister Tajani’s words:
“The red bench is a symbol of the empty place left in society by a woman who has fallen victim to femicide: we must sit on those benches and show our support to women, against violence but also against any form of discrimination.”
The inauguration takes place today, 25 November 2025, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, demonstrating the strong commitment of the entire team of the Consulate General to the ‘Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!’ campaign promoted by UN Women.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women also marks the beginning of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”, leading up to Human Rights Day on 10 December. Launched in 1991 by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) and supported by the United Nations, the initiative highlights that denying the existence of violence against women constitutes a violation of human rights.
Italy has long been at the forefront—at national and international level—of efforts to prevent and combat all forms of violence and discrimination against women, as well as to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. This commitment remains central to Italy’s foreign policy and has been reaffirmed through the recent adoption of the Fifth National Action Plan for the implementation of the UN Agenda “Women, Peace and Security.”
As Italy resumes its role as a voting member of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2026, the country will devote particular attention to the prevention and eradication of violence against women and girls.
