“It is now a well-established fact: gender inequality also affects the wallet! Women have a lower employment rate than men at a European level and in Italy, the gap is among the highest, although since 2021 there has been a steady increase in employed women, and in the second quarter of 2023 Istat informs that it went from 51.3% in 2022 to 52.6%.”
The “16 Days to Overcome Violence” 2023 booklet begins with these data on the topic "Women and Work: Widespread and Hidden Violence", the publication that every year the Federation of Evangelical Women in Italy (Fdei) dedicates to the fight against gender violence.
The booklet was presented on November 22, in the press room of the Chamber of Deputies, in Rome. Mauro Berruto, deputy of the Democratic Party, who called and hosted the meeting, started by underlining "the need to change the language because words structure reality".
Mirella Manocchio, methodist pastor and president of the Fdei, explained how the Federation is a network of connections between women belonging to different evangelical denominations (among them there is also the Adventist Women’s Ministries Department). Established in 1976, the Fdei is characterized by its awareness-raising work, aimed at churches and beyond, and by the valorization of female theological thought.
Gabriela Lio, baptist pastor and editor of the booklet, illustrated the contents of this year's edition: “Violence in the workplace, first and foremost. Because we realized that feminicides, as we say in the text, are the tip of the iceberg." Therefore, many issues addressed are related to the employment and remuneration of women, "such as unrecognized home and care work.”
The “16 days” propose a path that begins on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on December 10, World Human Rights Day. Each page offers an aspect of the general topic, a biblical text, a short devotional on the text, a question for discussion, and a prayer. It is prepared to invite personal and community reflection in churches. “We want to open a debate in our communities through this material” concluded Lio.
The lawyer Assunta Cestaro, from the "Women's Desk" of the CGIL trade union, spoke about the current regulatory framework and how crucial the issue of work is, of economic blackmail concerning violence against women. She recalled how "it was a law of 1977 which added a paragraph that also addressed discrimination based on age, sex, racial affiliation" for the protection of male and female workers. To date, therefore, the rules to support women victims of violence exist, but they are not enough, and "there is a difference between having a law and demanding a right" stated Cestaro.
Angela D'Alessandro, manager of the "Lucha y Siesta" women's house, recounted experiences of maltreatment in the workplace, denouncing "a lot of difficulty in the reintegration into work of women who have had to leave their jobs. We therefore hope for real refresher courses and training for women who have suffered violence."
Sadly, sexual harassment happens not only in the workplace but also in other areas such as sports, cinema, and university. “Sexual harassment is not a question of desire, but a question of power" concluded the lawyer Cestaro.
As reported by Pasqualina Ferrara, Women’s Ministries Director, Italian Union