25 Novembre

curiosità 25/11/2025 0 Comments

25/11 – International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Memory, symbolism, denunciation, awareness-raising, activism against gender-based violence and its systematic nature on a global level. All of this is November 25, a day that highlights how daily actions and decisions, in all areas and at all levels, remain essential and necessary to combat every act of violence and the roots of the patriarchal culture itself from which everything originates.

It is still virtually impossible to obtain a comprehensive picture of how many victims of gender-based violence there are, especially when it comes to women and migrants or contexts where patriarchal culture is deeply rooted. Interdisciplinary research has now established a clear link between gender-based violence and patriarchy. While the former is a structural phenomenon in our society that serves to maintain power inequalities between men and women, patriarchy is the sociocultural system that assigns power and centrality to men, relegating women to subordinate roles or roles that do not conform to masculinity. Over time, male violence has been normalized to such an extent that gender stereotypes justifying controlling and possessive behavior that traps women in the roles of wives and mothers, or seductresses, thus becoming mere sexual objects, have become acceptable. Globally, if greater gender inequality corresponds to greater gender-based violence, this also means that not all women experience violence in the same way. Social class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or migration status are all factors that filter the experience of violence, which is seen as normal or inextricably linked to being a woman. Women are often taught to endure domestic violence in honor of marriage or for the ‘good’ of their children, when they should be removed from the situation immediately.

Gender-based violence is a complex and specific phenomenon, systematic and pervasive in the lives of those who suffer it, and includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence, as well as stalking. These aspects touch the deepest parts of the psyche of the person affected and trigger mechanisms that prevent them from realizing they are victims or lead to shame in exposing themselves or to silence out of fear. This mechanism is exacerbated by the fact that, when victims decide to report the abuse, they are not listened to or believed, or they are ridiculed by a legal system that does nothing to help them or is too slow to act when there is still time to do so. The same legal system does not take into account the time needed to process and become aware of the violence suffered, and as a result, reports often come too late.

The latest ISTAT report on data from 2025 highlights that in Italy, more than six million women between the ages of 16 and 75 have suffered at least one instance of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. The most alarming fact is that partners or ex-partners are responsible for most of the physical violence, which is particularly serious and long-lasting. About 20% of women report incidents that have lasted for more than ten years. Also alarming is the link between pregnancy and violence, the fact that many minors witness it, and that over 80% of violence is never reported. In Italy, in 2025 alone, there were 85 cases of femicide by a partner or ex-partner.

According to ISTAT, the percentage of all these phenomena is still largely unknown among the female migrant population. Women who come to Italy with the desire to emancipate themselves, but whose experiences are trapped in stereotypical and hierarchical social and economic models based on gender and citizenship. In fact, even if they have a university degree, it is not recognized, preventing them from achieving positions of prestige or economic autonomy. A situation in which forms of gender-based violence are perpetrated in silence by those who suffer them, partly because they are heavily dependent on their husbands or families, and partly because racism and sexism amplify their difficulties in asking for help.

If we consider the Mediterranean route, according to a survey by the Safe Women in Migration project, most women arriving in Europe have suffered multiple forms of physical, sexual, and psychological violence perpetrated by men they know, traffickers, law enforcement, and border guards in their country of origin or during their journey. As with Italian women, different forms of violence are most frequently perpetrated by men who are part of their own family unit. Among these are migrant women who have been deceived and trafficked to Italy for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Women who suffer all forms of gender-based violence. In the EU, almost one in four victims of trafficking are minors, young people who are increasingly difficult to reach due to new models of online recruitment and exploitation.

Finally, migrant women often do not report violence and assaults suffered in Italy, partly because of documentation issues. In fact, without valid documents, reporting an assault can absurdly mean undergoing a repatriation or expulsion procedure instead of receiving help and justice. 

On a day like November 25, we cannot fail to mention all the women and girls who are victims of violence in conflict zones where rape is still used as a weapon of war. This is happening in Sudan and South Sudan, to name just one of the most violent and devastating humanitarian crises currently underway.

For all these reasons, it is essential to emphasize the importance of services open to women, such as anti-violence centres and anti-trafficking organizations. But it is equally important to consider establishing programs that teach respect, empathy, affection, and sexuality, starting in the family and school context. In order to prevent these feelings from turning into violence or a patriarchal culture of possession in adulthood. 

 

If you are a victim of violence, regardless of your background or financial situation, you can call 1522 for help. This is a free, 24-hour hotline that offers multilingual information on the public and private anti-violence centers closest to you.

If you are a victim of sexual and/or labor exploitation, call the toll-free number 800 290290, available 24 hours a day, also in several languages and completely free of charge throughout the country.

 

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