To mark International Women’s Day, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, asked the Italian Foreign Ministry to install a “red bench” in every Embassy of Italy around the world.
“Italy must take the lead in promoting gender equality and women’s emancipation, especially in preventing and opposing all forms of violence and discrimination against women”, said the Minister. “For this reason, a red bench was installed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as in every Embassy” he added. According to Tajani, “the red bench is a symbol, representing the void left in society when a woman falls victim to femicide: we must sit on those benches and give our support to women, fighting against violence but also against everyday discrimination”.
Last November, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated a number of scholarships for young non-Italians coming to study in Italy to Giulia Cecchettin. “I decided to dedicate to Giulia a series of scholarships for young people who will come to study in Italy and who dream of doing what Giulia dreamed of doing”, said the Minister on 25 November. Giulia was a 22-year-old girl who disappeared in Veneto together with her ex-boyfriend and was found dead seven days later.
To mark 8 March, Tajani also reaffirmed his personal solidarity and that of all Italian diplomats “with the women, girls and children living in areas of crisis and conflict, as well as with the women and girls who courageously claim their right to participate in the political, economic, social and cultural life of their country”.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that “the Italian G7 Presidency intends to promote concrete actions in the development sector, with a particular focus on Africa, consistent with the Mattei Plan. Specifically, the Italian Government aims to support its African partners in developing the potential of African women and their contribution to the continent’s economic growth, in order to “ensure freedom from all forms of discrimination and gender-based violence, promote women’s empowerment, and strengthen the role of women and girls with regard to the response to climate change”.