On average 120 women are killed by men each year in Italy, mostly by members of their own family or close friends. One woman in three will be subjected to violence by men, both physical and sexual, during the course of her life. These are the figures cited at a conference hosted in the Italian chamber of deputies on the eve of the UN day for the elimination of violence against women on 25 November.

The day will be marked in Rome by a festival of music, photography, art and literature at the Lanificio 159, the ex-industrial space at Petralata, at the La Casa Internazionale delle Donne, at Città dell’ Altra Economia at the ex-Mattatoio in Testaccio, at the the Centro di Ascolto at Tor Bella Monaca.

In Italy there have been some recent tragic and violent killings of women by men in the north and the south of the country, almost exclusively by men either close to or known by the women. According to the statistics from the help line Telefono Rosa, 85 per cent of the 106 dead so far this year have been victims of violence by close relatives or friends, 3 per cent up on 2011.

Of the 1,000 women who have reported acts of violence to Telefono Rosa this year 44 per cent have experienced physical violence, the remainder psychological violence which includes stalking. Some 60 per cent of the women are between the ages of 35 and 54 and at least 12 per cent have been subject to long-term violence. It is thought the present economic crisis has led to increases in the level of violence against women in the home.

In July this year a new help centre, part of the Associazione Giovanna D'Arco was opened close to Piazza del Popolo, Via Gabriele D’Annunzio 101, tel. 3479091265.

Details of other help centres in Italy and events around the country on 25 November.

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