Mr. Chair,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here today to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This is not just a tribute to the past, but also an essential opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved in these 30 years and what still needs to be done.
If we think back to those days in 1995, we can still vividly see in our minds the multitude of women coming from all over the world to speak up with one voice to radically change a world built by men and for men. We can still see the faces of those courageous women. We can hear their passionate voices and feel their hunger for justice and equality.
Thirty years have passed since that day and today many more women participate in employment, often in leadership positions. Our countries can count on more talented women entrepreneurs and scientists, and their representation in all spheres of public life has definitely increased.
But despite the highs, there are still the lows: too many women in our countries are victims of violence and abuse, are killed by those men who were supposed to love them. Too many women are forced to give up their desire for maternity to pursue their career aspirations, or, conversely, to quit their job to raise their children, because we have not managed to create a woman- and mother-friendly labor market, which remains mainly based on men’s life.
Dear Colleagues,
The achievements and setbacks of the last 30 years are two sides of the same coin. New complex and interconnected challenges stand ahead of us: the eradication of all forms of violence against women and girls both offline and online, the elimination of all barriers to the full achievement of women’s empowerment as a tool for women’s freedom and independence, the demographic change, the protection of maternity as a free choice also in vulnerable circumstances.
Italy is taking these challenges very seriously: the Italian Government is now led by a woman for the first time in the history of our nation, and I am particularly proud that – under this Government – we have achieved the highest female employment rate ever recorded in our country.
Strategic measures have been introduced to support women’s participation in the labor market, from the adoption of tax relief for businesses hiring women and for working mothers, to the strengthening of the alliance between the public and private sectors and the budget increase for women’s entrepreneurship.
Violence against women and girls is the result of men’s difficulty to accept their freedom, which disrupts and challenges an outdated social system built by and for men.
I am particularly proud to announce today that, just last week, the Italian Government passed a landmark bill proposing the introduction of femicide as a distinct and specific offence in the Italian Criminal Code. Once adopted by the Parliament, the provision will further strengthen Italy’s already advanced legislative framework on violence against women and girls and is expected to strongly contribute to the cultural change that is necessary to finally eradicate violence once and for all.
Dear Colleagues,
Italy reaffirms its commitment to the protection of fundamental rights and to the use of language that reflects the values shared by our societies. In this regard, we believe that approaches to education on sensitive issues, including sexuality education, should take into account cultural specificities and the essential role of families. Furthermore, we value language that clearly acknowledges differences between women and men, while respecting their diverse perspectives.
Thank you.
