May Giulia's death be impetus for change says dad at funeral

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 5 - Gino Cecchettin said Tuesday he hoped his daughter Giulia's death at the hands of her ex boyfriend Filippo Turetta on November 11 might be the impetus to work against gender-based violence.
    "May Giulia's memory inspire us to work together against violence, may her death be the impetus for change," Cecchettin said in his message to mourners at Giulia's funeral in Padua.
    "My daughter Giulia was exactly as you have got to know her: an extraordinary young woman, cheerful and lively, never satiated with learning," he continued, adding that she had "embraced the responsibility of family management after the untimely loss of her beloved mother" Monica last year.
    "Femicide is often the result of a culture that devalues the lives of women (who then become) victims of those who should have loved them; instead they are harassed, forced into long periods of abuse, until they have lost their freedom, before they also lose their lives," said Cecchettin.
    "How can this happen? How could this have happened to Giulia?.
    "There are many responsibilities, but the educational one involves everyone. I turn to the men first of all: we must be the first to show that we are agents of change, against gender violence," he added.
    "I love you so much, and Elena and Davide (Giulia's sister and brother, ed.) love you too," said Cecchettin.
    "I do not know how to pray, but I know how to hope. I want to hope together with you and your mother, and all of you here present, that this rain of pain will fertilise the soil of our lives, and one day it will sprout, and produce its fruit of love, forgiveness, and peace. Goodbye Giulia, my love," he concluded.
    Following the message, the coffin was carried out of the church to long applause, bell-ringng, key-rattling and shouts of "Giulia, Giulia!", including from the 8,000 mourners gathered outside who had been asked by the family to make noise for a minute in a challenge to indifference towards femicide. (ANSA).