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Local sources from Italy: WIRED Italia, Il Sole 24 ORE.
UK coverage: BBC.

Thousands of people gathered in cities across Italy on Wednesday, November 25th to protest against violence against women. The rallies, organized by the Non una di meno movement, were sparked by recent high-profile cases of femicide in the country. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi addressed the crowds, stating that violence against women was a failure of society. The protests aimed to raise awareness and demand action to protect women from gender-based violence.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, there have been over 100 cases of femicide since January 2023. The feeling is that the femicide of Giulia Cecchettin has sparked a new wave of protests against a form of violence, that against women and transgender individuals. The Meloni government has cut 70% of the resources for the prevention of violence against women, reducing the funding from the 17 million euros allocated by the Draghi government to 5 million in 2023.

On the other hand, the new bill on combating gender-based violence, presented months ago by the Minister for Family and Equal Opportunities Eugenia Roccella, was definitively approved on Wednesday, November 22nd in the Senate and provides for a strengthening of the enforcement of the “Red Code” from a repressive perspective.

In addition to the national demonstration in Rome and Messina, thousands of people took to the streets in Milan, Bologna, and Turin. The transfeminist movement Non una di meno, together with the presence of anti-violence centers in the territory, has been calling on governments to address the issue of gender-based violence by funding long-term prevention activities.

In response to the protests, the mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, announced that a flash mob will be organized in Piazza della Signoria on Saturday. On Sunday 26th, in Rome, the third stage of ‘Corri per il Verde’ will take place, the historic Uisp Roma event, the association that promotes social sports in Italy, which will be dedicated to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women with a special dedication to Giulia Cecchetin. In Lampedusa, students have planted a tree, on National Tree Day, in memory of the murdered girl. The mayor of Ferrara, Alan Fabbri, said that from tonight until Sunday 26th, the Estense Fortress will be illuminated in memory of the 22-year-old.

A large inscription has appeared on a wall in the center of Cagliari. Uppercase letters, imprinted with spray paint: “It was your good boy, it’s not love, it’s femicide.” An fresco dedicated to Giulia will be created on the walls of the primary school in Treglio (Chieti). The artwork, entitled “From Franca Viola to Mahsa Amini: the right to say NO!” will be presented on November 25.

The protests across Italy have demonstrated the country’s commitment to combating gender-based violence and ensuring the safety of women and transgender individuals. As Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, it is a failure of society when violence against women is allowed to persist. It is now up to the government to take action to protect women from gender-based violence and ensure that justice is served.