Biancavilla mobilizes in favor of the International day against violence against women which is held every November 25 with initiatives that have involved above all the city schools and young To raise awareness about this issue. Here's what's been organized.
International Day of Violence Against Women in Biancavilla
Un November 25 very bitter is what is celebrated today and which sees the death of Giulia Cecchettin, yet another victim of femicide, killed by the one who claimed to love her. Giulia as Valentina Solomon, another Biancavilla victim killed by her lover in 2010.
The city administrations try to give a strong and tangible signal to those who are victim of violence with a series of initiatives: last year the red benches in various strategic points of the city and also the Red Shoes Monument dedicated to all the victims; the one that has also been active for years Calipso Anti-Violence Center which helps women in difficulty.
The protagonists involved
This year, we've decided to further involve students from all levels of schools, city associations, psychologists, sociologists, family law experts, and teachers. The program includes a parade, the planting of cyclamens, a debate at Villa delle Favare, and the participation of the parents of two victims of femicide, who will share their testimonies and messages. The event will then culminate in the inauguration of the “Talking Bench”, donated by the Ipsia-Efesto school in Biancavilla.
The Department of Equal Opportunities of the Municipality of Biancavilla is promoting these two days. Present are: Civil Protection, Sicilian Biancavilla, the Baby City Council and the Baby Mayor, members of the City Council, religious associations, etc.
The initiatives
The initiatives in Biancavilla started already on Friday 24th to allow students to participate: at 9am a procession started from the Town Hall to the nearby Piazza Sant'Orsola near the monument to the victims of violence where the students planted flowers to create the "“Garden of Cyclamens”Flowers were chosen as a symbol of this day. Children and young people also planted them in the flowerbeds in Piazza Sant'Orsola. A minute of silence was observed for all the victims.
Next to the flowers are the anti-violence number 1522 to ask for help and intervention and slogans as well as the logos of those who wanted to create these messages which read: “You're not alone! Break the silence.”.
At 11 am at Villa delle Favare the conference entitled “Never again victims of silence” The event was attended by Vera Squatrito—mother of Giordana Di Stefano, killed in 2015 in Nicolosi by her ex-boyfriend—and Antonio Salamone, a Biancavilla resident, father of Valentina Salamone. Also moving was the speech by Antonio, the newly elected mayor of Biancavilla, who emphasized that the scars on the body destroy the soul and the importance of making people understand that violence is an evil that must be eradicated.
On Saturday 25th, at 11:00 am, a “Talking Bench” donated by the Ipsia-Efesto school in Biancavilla was inaugurated in Piazza Martiri di Nassiriya.
The children of the second educational circle created, along with other projects, the red bench in their Cielo Stellato complex.
All initiatives aim to break the cycle of silence and omertà that often surrounds those who are victims of violence and don't know how to free themselves.
