by Maximimiliano Crocamo
Interview: Maurizio De Blasio, Trieste’s councilor for Education and Family Policies
At Palazzo Gopcevich, the City of Trieste unveiled a series of initiatives marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, observed annually on Nov. 25. The program, presented in the Sala Bazlen, was introduced by Maurizio De Blasio, the city’s councillor for Education and Family Policies, alongside representatives from local institutions and associations involved in the effort.
De Blasio, speaking before members of the press, emphasized the responsibility of public administrations to address gender-based violence with sustained and coordinated action. “Violence against women is a complex and delicate issue,” he said, adding that authorities must deploy “effective tools to prevent and counter it.”
Citing the frequency of recent cases reported in the news, he noted that the city’s priority remains ensuring the safety, autonomy and well-being of women. “Our goal must be clear: to guarantee the happiness and freedom of every woman and, in the most dramatic cases, to save a life,” he said.
De Blasio also warned against what he described as two recurring pitfalls in the public debate: the risk of normalizing the issue and the temptation to propose ideologically driven but ineffective solutions. He called for a collaborative approach that brings together varied expertise and perspectives. “This problem cannot be solved alone,” he said. “It can only be addressed by joining forces.”
A central focus of the city’s strategy, he added, is youth education. Schools, he argued, play a crucial role in teaching young people how to build healthy relationships, understand their emotions and develop self-awareness. “Education is not indoctrination,” he said. “It is guidance for life in society, and it is the foundation for preventing gender-based violence.”
Margherita Paglino, president of the Equal Opportunities Commission, underscored the importance of the work carried out by local associations, which she said express “a collective movement” against violence through awareness campaigns, support centers, and cultural and educational initiatives. She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting projects across the territory. “Gender-based violence is a wound for the entire community,” she said, calling for cooperation among institutions, organizations, women and men.
Carmela Barresi, head of Youth and Equal Opportunities within the city’s School, Education and Libraries Directorate, noted that planning for the annual program begins with an analysis of ISTAT data, particularly calls placed to the national anti-violence hotline, 1522. She described a continued rise in the indicators linked to domestic violence and stalking, a trend that she said reflects both the persistence of the problem and an increased willingness among victims to seek help.
This year’s data show a troubling decrease in the age of both victims and perpetrators, Barresi added — a shift that influenced the structure of the city’s program. “It is not enough to speak about the issue,” she said. “We must build a comprehensive response, starting with children and young people. Only by transmitting solid values today can we hope to break the cycle of violence over time.”
Barresi then presented the full schedule of events, developed in collaboration with numerous partners across the city. The program includes educational activities, community discussions and awareness-raising initiatives intended to reach a wide audience.
A complete list of events was made available in an accompanying poster distributed by the municipality.
