On Thursday 20 November, the second meeting of the Gender equality Community of practice was held, focusing on strategies to prevent and combat violence against women.
Hosted by the Italian Network of Popular Culture at the Fondo Tullio De Mauro, the session offered an afternoon of dialogue and co-design, bringing together experiences, tools, and approaches to promote workplaces and communities free from gender-based violence.
The meeting was co-organised with two partner organisations of Torino Social Impact: Telefono Rosa Piemonte and Amapola. Guest speaker Cristina Donalisio, member of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Committee of the Torino Chamber of Commerce, contributed to the discussion, while the session was facilitated by Monica Cerutti, expert in social inclusion and gender policies.
After greetings from Torino Social Impact by Lorena Di Maria, Monica Cerutti presented the annual UN Women and United Nations campaign: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, taking place from 25 November to 10 December and dedicated this year to the issue of digital gender-based violence. The campaign is symbolised by the colour orange, representing a future free from violence.
Cerutti reminded participants that violence against women is widespread and transversal: “We often consider it something distant, unrelated to us or our circles. In reality, it has nothing to do with education level or socio-economic condition: it can happen in any context.”
The conversation addressed deepfakes, the role of artificial intelligence, the manosphere and online misogyny, as well as the potential of new technologies—when used responsibly—to identify, monitor, and prevent these forms of violence. The importance of education was also emphasised, both regarding digital violence and gender-based violence more broadly, along with the need for continuous awareness-raising to foster real cultural change.
Cristina Donalisio highlighted the work of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Committee and drew attention to the Gender Equality Certification. She also shared concrete actions that organisations can take—such as developing company gender equality plans; collecting and analysing gender-disaggregated data (on recruitment, promotions, salaries); defining measurable goals; adopting flexible work arrangements; promoting pay transparency by comparing salaries for similar roles and addressing gaps; and creating inclusive environments through training on implicit bias, clear reporting procedures for harassment, work-life balance policies, and valuing team diversity.
With Anna Ronfani, Vice President of Telefono Rosa Piemonte, participants explored data, testimonies, and best practices from local initiatives dedicated to preventing and countering violence against women.
Her contribution provided an overview of the Italian context, highlighting the gap between the legal framework and the everyday reality experienced by women. She underlined that gender inequality is the logical premise of violence, and that fear is a constant element in the lives of those who endure it.
She stressed the importance of naming the phenomenon correctly: rather than simply “gender-based violence”, it must be recognised as male violence against women. Special attention was also given to domestic violence.
ISTAT data reveal that the issue remains largely hidden and pervasive: in Italy, male violence affects one in three women, and 90% do not report it. These figures confirm the depth and persistence of the problem.
Ronfani also outlined the role of anti-violence centres—spaces where individual refusal of violence becomes collective empowerment, thanks to non-judgmental listening and the support of qualified professionals. Their aim is to accompany women toward self-determination and freedom from fear, offering legal, psychological, and emotional support within a framework of confidentiality and care.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of networking and alliances: collaboration with public institutions, organisations, and businesses enables the development of concrete initiatives and progress.
The final part of the meeting, led by Micol Burighel and Emilia Blanchetti of Amapola, focused on a practical workshop. Starting from a key question—“In the field of preventing gender-based violence, what can organisations do?”—participants explored priority areas for action both inside and outside their organisations, and reflected on how institutions can contribute to meaningful change.
Divided into working groups, participants then developed concrete proposals for prevention, drawing on lateral thinking and collective intelligence.
The session offered a valuable opportunity to transform insights and awareness into actionable strategies—towards an inclusive future free from gender-based violence.
