avigliana against violence against women

November 25 is the World Day against Violence against Women, which was established by the United Nations in 1999 to raise awareness among the population and deal with this serious problem. The initiatives promoted in Avigliana are diverse and will take place not only on the 25th, but throughout the week, starting on Saturday 20 November with the inauguration of the photo exhibition “One shot … many emotions”, in the church of Santa Croce. The exhibition was set up by the Dragonesse group and Andrea Musso, author of the shots, will be present at 3.30 pm on Saturday to illustrate, during the inauguration, the photographs taken in various countries around the world (Nepal, Mongolia, Burma, Philippines, Guatemala, Uganda and Rwanda) during the collaboration with various local non-governmental associations that are involved in supporting and helping women victims of violence, abuse and discrimination. The inaugural event, to which everyone is invited to participate, will be attended by both the Dragonesse (which will also open the exhibition to schools during the week) and the Naviglia Clan of the Avigliana 1 scout group, which will talk about the activities carried out locally on the same theme.

On Thursday 25 November, in front of the Conad shop in via dei Testa, the red bench will be inaugurated at 10.30 which, with its color, symbolizes the violence exerted on women and reminds us of the femicides that unfortunately continue almost daily throughout Italy and in the world. “In Avigliana – explains the councilor for health Fiorenza Arisio – there are already several benches that have been painted red precisely to attract attention to this issue. We are happy that this new installation was commissioned by Conad in a place like the area in front of the store, as it will help to attract attention and reflect on this issue even in an area mainly frequented for shopping “.

The mayor Andrea Archinà and the Dragonesse group will also be present at the inauguration. Finally, on Friday 26 November, at the Bertotto auditorium of the middle schools (in via Cavalieri di Vittorio Veneto 3) at 9 pm there will be an information evening on the subject, preceded by the theatrical reading of some pieces selected by Silvia Mercuriati of the Tlc Teatro, interpreted by some Dragonesse and some women by Firmato Donna, entitled: Women killed by men, because women. Following the theme of violence against women will be declined in its various facets by Lucia Sgarbossa of the City of Women for the prevention aspects, by the lawyer Silvia Lorenzino for the legal aspects, by Elisabetta Davì, adult area manager Conisa Valle di Susa and Val Sangone and Roberta Ravizza, CSDA social cooperative, Susa Valley Widespread Family Center for aspects relating to family and social repercussions.

The event will be broadcast on the Fb page of the Municipality of Avigliana, while access to the auditorium will be allowed for those with the Green pass. “We hope – concludes the councilor Arisio – that not only the people who are more sensitive to the issue want to attend the evening (in person or remotely) because they are acquaintances, friends or relatives of those who have suffered this violence, but also men and women who realize that they are directly involved in the problem and who will be able to find useful references to be able to deal with it with the help of the various local realities, such as pharmacies and general practitioners included “.

Photo exhibition: One shot … many emotions

The exhibition was inaugurated in November 2019, prepared by the Firmato donna association at Villa Casalegno in Pianezza, to celebrate the international day against violence against women. The idea came to fruition after Andrea Musso offered Firmato donna the photos of him. Who is Andrea Musso? A researcher from CERN in Geneva with a passion for photography. For years, among the various voluntary activities in which he participates, Musso has been involved in documenting projects carried out in various parts of the planet by local non-governmental associations that are involved in supporting and helping women victims of violence, abuse and discrimination. During his travels, he got to know very different realities, to be accompanied by local guides and his photographs have always been authorized by the subjects involved. The Firmato donna association has produced in-depth information sheets on the political-social situation of each country with particular attention to the condition of women and girls, cards displayed next to the photos, and the photographer has written his personal considerations lived on the other side of the ‘target. The exhibition will be inaugurated on Saturday 20 November in the church of Santa Croce in piazza Conte Rosso.

Red shoes in the shop window

For the international day against violence against women, the Aviglianese small business also contributes with an initiative carried out as part of the Choose Avigliana project in collaboration with the Merchants and Artisans Union of Avigliana. “All participating merchants – says Paola Babbini councilor for Commerce – will display a poster in their windows with different literary quotes that invite everyone to reflect on the theme of gender-based violence and femicide”. Traders are also invited to include in their window some symbolic elements that lead back to the day, for example the red shoes or the red threads that have become a red thread, which have become an emblem of the fight against violence against women.