Italy gears up to say 'No' to violence against women

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 24 - Italy is gearing up to mark the International Day for the elimination of violence against women on Saturday against the backdrop of ongoing public anger over the femicide of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin, who was murdered by her ex boyfriend on November 11.
    Planned events include processions, runs, walks, flash mobs, sit-ins, free gynaecological examinations and, above all, a lot of noise in a bid to break the silence on gender-based violence and patriarchy.
    In Rome the feminist movement Non Una Di Meno has organised a demonstration march starting in Circo Massimo at 2:30 pm local time and ending in Piazza San Giovanni, where participants will rattle their keys.
    The Lower House and Senate have also organised open-door events with the testimonies of women survivors of violence, and on Saturday evening the facade of the upper house of parliament will be lit up in red in memory of victims.
    In San Paolo station at 7 pm there will be a free solidarity tango event at which dancers are expected to wear red shows.
    In Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala will be present at an event title 'Patriarchy Kills' and a red bench will be unveiled in the garden of the Sormani Library in memory of women victims of violence, followed by the theatrical monologue 'Rape' by Franca Rame.
    In addition, 80,000 bread bags carrying the emergency numbers of the Hara-Bollate and Rho Anti-Violence Centre will be distributed under the initiative 'Violence cannot be daily bread' involving more than 100 bakers in 17 municipalities in the Milan area.
    In Turin, Non Una Di Meno has organised a procession starting from Piazza Carlo Felice at 3 pm and pass under the Mole Antonelliana, which will be illuminated in red for the day.
    Many other events have ben planned in Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Cagliari, Bari, Naples, Messina, Palermo and many other towns and cities up and down the country. (ANSA).