Macerata: “Look me in the eyes”, students and institutions discuss the issue of gender violence

The “Look me in the eyes” project, arrived this year in the fourth edition e centered on the figure of Madama Butterfly, is organized by the Department of Equal Opportunities of the Municipality of Macerata in collaboration with the Social Territorial Area 15.

Prevention and fight against gender violence.

These were the objectives of the awareness meeting held yesterday morning at the ITE Gentili in Macerata, which saw the students of the city's high schools as protagonists, who spoke with the institutions on the topic of gender violence. The project "Look at me in the eyes", now in its fourth edition and centered on the figure of Madama Butterfly, is organized by the Department of Equal Opportunities of the Municipality of Macerata in collaboration with the Social Territorial Area 15.

Madama Butterfly, famous character from Giacomo Puccini's opera, is the protagonist of the educational path that the students have undertaken and which will be the subject of the development of projects concerning both melodrama and gender violence and which will be presented during an initiative that is being planned at the Lauro Rossi theatre on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

“With the project 'Look me in the eyes' we reached a total of 800 students thanks to the development of project activities that allowed us to delve deeper into a particularly relevant female character such as Madama Butterfly – nOn the centenary of Puccini's death - and, at the same time, to reflect on the theme of gender violence and relational dynamics - said the deputy mayor and councilor for Social Policies and Equal Opportunities Francesca D'Alessandro -. The focus is on preventing and combating gender violence but the goal is to create and train new generations of students who recognize the importance of good relationships and mutual respect and, for the occasion, we have created the new motto "School free from violence". I thank the Prefecture and the police because in the area the synergy is strong and concrete with the common goal of laying the foundations for prevention activities and promotion of new relational practices".

The Prefect of Macerata Isabella Fusiello recalled the recent story of Giulia Cecchettin and stressed how "the issue of gender violence is of great relevance given that we are talking about a phenomenon that is unfortunately present in society and in families - she said -; a phenomenon that, despite the new provisions of law that increase penalties, does not retreat but tends to increase. It is therefore necessary to start from families to educate children about equality and the promotion of equal relationships. In this context, school has an important role because it is an excellent training ground for the new generations".

“The regulatory instruments in Italy are cutting edge in terms of preventing and combating gender violence but the phenomenon is still very present and alarming – added Marcello Pedrotti, deputy of the Police Commissioner of Macerata -. We are talking about a phenomenon that is also cultural and therefore time is needed for the tools to become effective, involving not only families and schools but the entire community with important initiatives like today's. The Police Headquarters has been involved in the field for years also through the initiative 'This is not love' thanks to which we have reached about a million people on the national territory”.

Also Lieutenant Colonel Giorgio Picchiotti, commander of the Carabinieri Company of Macerata, underlined "the great opportunity that the project 'Look me in the eyes' offers to schools because it represents an important starting point for reflection for young people and to eradicate an alarming phenomenon".

In conclusion, Stefania Nardini, Director of the Provincial School Office, reiterated the importance of the initiative “which allows us to address, together with students, the issue of gender violence to make them aware of recognizing certain signals not only on a personal level but also with the aim of helping others”.