Many words, few facts, but above all, little money. The Meloni government, the first government led by a woman, is not doing well in how it spends the resources allocated to preventing gender-based violence: this is revealed by a report published by the independent organization ActionAid, which photographs the health situation of the Italian population. Anti-violence system.
As we read in the report, although the commitment of Italian institutions has increased over the years, they are “still inadequate and strategically weak”. The research clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of anti-violence policies adopted over time, noting that despite the increase in funding over the past decade, the number of women killed by men in family-emotional contexts has remained largely constant.
Less money to prevent, more money to punish
The data that immediately stands out concerns the allocation of resources that governments have implemented in the last four years: Of the 248.8 million euros allocated to combat the phenomenon of gender-based violence, only 12 percent is used to prevent it; 81 percent of it is used to prevent this. funds are spent on women’s protection; the remaining 7 percent finances the strengthening of the anti-violence system.
The current administration took a step back precisely regarding the prevention chapter, cutting 70 percent of the funds; It has fallen from 17 million allocated by the government led by Mario Draghi to the current 5 percent. It is a purely political choice; this greatly underscores the tendency to fund interventions in response to violence that is already occurring; rather than acting strategically to prevent it.
As we read later in the report, “decisions that do not directly affect the root causes of violence, but are rooted in gender discrimination and the inequalities produced by the pervasive patriarchal culture that perpetuates sexist and hierarchical power relations, take priority” to intervene.
What is the Meloni government doing?
The main measure implemented by the current executive branch is the bill regulating the “Provisions on the fight against violence against women and domestic violence”, which was approved by the Parliament on October 26 and is currently being discussed in the Senate. According to ActionAid, the text focuses almost entirely on strengthening punitive and tertiary prevention measures, i.e. the safety of women subjected to violence, and reducing the recidivism rate of perpetrators of violence through changes to the penal code and the Criminal Code. Procedure. In terms of secondary prevention, that is, regarding taking action against violence that has already occurred and intervening with those who are at risk of being subjected to or repeating this violence, the law presented by Minister Eugenia Roccella offers only two measures: the first concerns national preparations for violence. guidelines for “adequate and homogeneous training” of operators who come into contact with women subjected to violence; The second concerns the inclusion of special educational initiatives on combating violence against women and domestic violence in the educational programs recommended by the Minister of Justice in judicial high schools every year.” The bill completely ignores primary prevention, that is, their replacement. In order to reduce the incidence of violence, it social norms and behaviors that produce/produce.
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Source: Today IT
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
