Italian Women’s New Motto: Don’t Be Silent ‘Burn All’

As women across Europe take to the streets on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a new slogan is being used during Italian protests: ‘Burn everything.’

The message came from the sister of 22-year-old biomedical engineering student Julia Sacheton, who was found dead on November 18.

Giulia went missing after having dinner with her ex-boyfriend at a local McDonald’s in Venice province. After a week of searching, his body was found near a pond.

It was Giulia’s sister Elena Cecchitan who, after learning of her death, ignited the debate with an appeal on the Italian TV show Drito e Rossio: ‘Don’t hold a minute of silence for Giulia. Burn everything for Giulia.’

The phrase, inspired by a poem by Peruvian activist Cristina Torres Caceres, sparked protests across Italy, including a one-minute riot at several schools, including the University of Padua, where Giulia earned a degree in biomedical engineering in five days. Had to get it.

But what does ‘burn everything’ mean?

As an Italian woman myself, having walked the same streets where the students are now protesting, I am sorry to say that I know the answer.

Elena called on Italian citizens to ‘end the rap culture that aims to limit women’s freedom’, such as checking your partner’s phone like crazy, owning it or even cat-calling. or contain immoral phrases.

I experienced first hand what this system looks like. Unwanted attention, sexual comments and even ‘accidental’ breast touching from male partners.

Many of my female friends told me last week how they were harassed on the streets by groups of drunken men, how a stranger touched their legs on a public train when they were It was 15 years, or how jealousy turned into domestic violence before their eyes.

While all these measures may not lead to extreme violence, they create an environment in which we women never feel comfortable.

Emma Rosen, a member of Padua’s Union degli University, told The Independent: ‘As students, we don’t feel safe.

‘We know of female colleagues and classmates who were harassed when they returned home at night and even during the day in bars or in the halls of universities.’

‘There are also many women who [بدسلوکی] Not reported. Trust in law enforcement agencies is close to zero.’

If this situation sounds all too familiar to you, that’s because harassment and abuse isn’t just an Italian problem.

Giulia was the 103rd woman to die in Italy in 2023, according to data from Italy’s interior ministry.

This figure is not too different from the UK where 109 women have been murdered so far in 2023. Trust in the police is also on the wane after cases like Sarah Everd or, more recently, Gracie Spinks, who were killed by her stalker after reporting them to the police.

However, Giulia’s death is (actually) causing more noise than ever in Italy because it bursts a bubble that has been building for years.

The #MeToo movement that shook the heart of the American film industry in 2016 never took off in Italy, and women like me were often left confused about how to report or describe harassment and abuse.

It was Giulia’s sister’s call to action that won the hearts of me and many other Italians, forcing us to rekindle the debate on sexuality and harassment – ​​and more importantly, men. He was asked to be accountable for his actions and those of his friends.

But change must also come from within institutions.

Giorgia Meloni, who herself dealt with a stalker before becoming Italy’s prime minister, has already announced more funding for anti-violence projects, awareness campaigns in schools and helplines for victims of stalking and violence. will be allocated.

Is this enough to ‘burn the system’? That won’t happen unless we can guarantee that the push for change won’t end with the Giulia.

It is the responsibility of each one of us in Italy, but also in the UK and around the world, to act every day to ensure that by next November 25 the number of women who die in their country is significantly reduced. will