Red bench inaugurated at the Italian Embassy in Helsinki

(ANSA) - HELSINKI, 19 DIC - A red bench has been installed at the entrance to the Italian Embassy in Finland, symbolising Italy's and MAECI's commitment to combating all forms of violence and discrimination against women, in Italy and worldwide.
    The initiative comes at the end of the 'Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!' campaign - promoted by UN Women and launched on 25 November on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
    As stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani at the launch of the campaign, at the opening of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Fiuggi-Anagni (25-26 November), "Italy must be at the forefront in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, especially in preventing and combating all forms of discrimination and violence against women." The ceremony, presided over by Italian Ambassador Nicola Todaro Marescotti, was attended by Sabina Morandi, president of the Circle of Italians in Finland and a founding member of the Plus Collective Ry in Helsinki (a non-profit organisation working to promote gender equality and combat violence against women). The initiative was also supported by Dr. Simona Vitalini, an Italian psychotherapist who works for Nollalinja, an association in Helsinki that provides assistance to women victims of violence. They are the best Ambassadors for a priority campaign for Italy, which finds its symbol in the 'red bench'.
    This meeting was an opportunity to reflect together on the problems connected with discrimination against women, the need to continue with awareness and education campaigns, and the importance of the involvement of everyone, not just women, in the fight for gender equality and the elimination of violence against women.