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The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day:

‘Women and Men, United to End Violence against Women’ is a call to action underpinning a global campaign launched by the UN Secretary-General in February 2008.

“Changing mindsets and the habits of generations is not easy. It must involve all of us – individuals, organizations and governments. We must work together to state loud and clear, at the highest level, that violence against women will not be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstance,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said in a statement released on March 6th.

Although gender equality and freedom from violence are guaranteed under law, attitudes which perpetuate inequality and violence continue to persist. According to a study by the UN Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2008, one-fifth of couples experienced domestic violence. The study also found that in cases of violence couples rarely ask for help from parents, friends or authorities because of fear of “losing face” or “not wanting to wash one’s dirty linen in public” – thereby perpetuating the silence and shame surrounding this important social issue.

“In recent years, the Government has made progress in promoting gender equality but too many women still experience domestic and public violence and traditional stereotypes about women continue to exist. Violence against women is not simply a women’s issue. It is an issue which concerns all of us – men and women, boys and girls.

However, the domestic and public violence law is still relatively new and implementation of it by the all Government needs to be further strengthened. This is a key priority area for the UN and in 2009 twelve UN agencies will work together on a joint programme with the Government to provide coordinated and multi-sectoral technical assistance to build the capacity of national and provincial duty bearers to better implement the Law on Domestic Violence, as well as the Law on Gender Equality.

Women’s needs cannot wait. They need protection, livelihood support, and strong advocacy. Tomorrow is International Women’s Day. In Italy, women across the country will go into the streets to claim their public voice and demand peace with justice. Side by side, women of all language and ethnic will show the world they are not invisible. They are ready to be equal partners for peace.