Lately, Equal Opportunities Minister, Barbara Pollastrini has called for an imperative action to tackle violence against women.
A study by national statistics institute Istat has postulated some disturbing levels of abuse.
1. Nearly, 14 million Italian women have experienced some form of violence but fewer than 10% of such crimes are ever reported.
2. Women between the ages of 16 and 50 are more likely to die from violence than from illness or road accidents.
3. From 1.15 million Italian women, around 5.4% have experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence in the last 12 months alone.
4. In nearly 50% of cases, an ex- partner sexually or physically attacked women.
The most common forms of physical violence were being shoved, slapped, having hair pulled, and being kicked or punched, while sexual violence took the form of being touched without consent and agreeing to sex out of fear.
Sexual violence is rooted in discrimination, thus the only way to end this disturbing trend is by changing the mindset of men at large. Until they understand how important it is to respect the women, the vogue of violence won’t stop.
