President Sergio Mattarella said the figures on gender-based violence are alarming and not enough has been done to protect women in an ongoing emergency, speaking Monday on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
“Violence against women presents alarming numbers.
“It is an unjustified behaviour, steeped in inequality, gender and culture-based stereotypes that tolerate or minimize abuse, which also often takes place within the family”, noted the president.
The president recalled that the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on preventing and fighting violence against women and domestic violence “is the first juridically binding tool to have recognized gender-based violence as a violation of human rights.
“What has been done so far is, however, insufficient in safeguarding women, including very young ones, who continue to see their rights violated.
“It is an emergency that continues”, said Mattarella.