On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Italian Embassy in Berne last night presented Paola Cortellesi's film 'C'è ancora domani' simultaneously in eight Swiss cities (Berne, Basel, Lucerne, Zurich, St. Gallen, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano). In all, some 2,000 spectators attended the screenings, 'demonstrating the great friendship and close cultural relations between Italy and Switzerland,' notes a statement from the Embassy.
The screening was preceded by the reading, by Ambassador Gianlorenzo Cornado and the Consuls in Switzerland, of a message from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, who joined the audience in celebrating the courage and strength of women around the world and in reflecting on the challenges that still stand in the way of full gender equality. The crucial issue of women's rights is in fact a priority area of the Italian government's commitment, including at the international level,' the Minister stressed.
In particular," the communiqué states, "Minister Tajani wished to recall the initiatives promoted in favour of women and girls in the framework of our country's humanitarian and development cooperation activities, starting with crisis and conflict contexts such as Afghanistan.
Tajani also evoked the issue of female genital mutilation, where Italy is among the most active countries in condemning and combating these aberrant practices, as repeatedly reiterated in all international bodies.
Education is central,' the minister added, 'as a precondition for guaranteeing everyone, especially women, the right to participate in the political, economic, social and cultural life of their country.
This is why the minister recalled in his message that he had wanted to dedicate one of the scholarship programmes to the memory of Giulia Cecchettin, aimed at young students from 18 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia so that they can live out in Italian universities those dreams that were so senselessly snatched from Giulia.
He added that it was with her and the many, too many women victims of this inhuman violence in mind that he had red benches installed at the Foreign Ministry and in each of our Embassies, symbolising the empty place left in society by a woman victim of the heinous crime of feminicide. "As a man, husband, father and grandfather, I never tire of reiterating that the elimination of violence against women is an absolute priority," he stressed in his address.
Gender equality is a path we must walk every day, together. A team game in which we all have to make our contribution. "We do it and we want to do it even more. Count on me, count on the Italian government,' the minister concluded.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
