ROME, NOVEMBER 22, 2008
PIAZZA DELLA REPUBBLICA: 2 P.M.
INDECOROUS AND FREE
In Italy, as in the rest of the world, male violence is the number one cause of death and permanent disfigurement among women. Violence is common place in our daily lives and expresses itself through the denial of our rights, the violation of our bodies and is covered up by silence.
They tell us that we must be afraid of the stranger on the street, but violence exists within our families (83% of the times): husbands, boyfriends, live-in mates, lovers are the ones responsible for beating, raping and killing women.
Violence against women is not a Law and Irder issue, but a cultural and political problem.
Violence against women is legitimized by the establishment when free and legal abortion is questioned, when funds for public health offices are cut, when school funds are slashed and social security is curtailed. Violence against women is legitimized by society when the family is exalted, and we are told that our natural place is ‘at home’, where, by definition, we are economically dependent on a man and where we take care of children and elders without pay.
Violence also occurs when others tell us how we must be.
To be free we must be independent , and to be independent we must have education, health care, income and green cards.
JOIN US
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2008