“Heforshe” arrives in Italy: so men lift for equality

And so also in Italy it arrived Heforshea movement that has reached 1 billion people in the world and already has 2 million activists globally.

Launched by a Women in 2014, he invites men and boys to be promoters active in change, against all forms of discrimination and gender stereotype.

The real protagonists of Heforshe They are in fact them: the men. Men who choose, with awareness and responsibility, to be alongside women, accelerating the path towards equality with concrete actions. Men who become agents of change. Social sentinels that promote respect for women in all àmbiti. Men who decide to dedicate their talents and the lotus time to a high purpose: to make us all freer.

And now Italy also enters the scene and, in the international community of Heforsheour first Advocates in our country arrive: Gino Cecchettinwho gave birth to the Giulia Cecchettin Foundation for its strong commitment to inclusion and fight against gender violence; the actor Alessio Boniwhich has repeatedly told the theater about violence against women; Luca Fratinicoordinator for women, young people, peace and security in the UN area of ​​the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alessandro Rosinafull professor of demography and social statistics at the Catholic University of Milan for his commitment to research, dissemination and active contribution to the definition of policies in favor of inclusion, then, again Corrado Tomassini And Filippo Agnellorespectively responsible for institutional and treasurer of a Women Italy, for their personal and professional commitment in supporting the cause.

Where it is born Heforshe? In 2014 with an exceptional godmother, the actress Emma Watson, a Women launches an international movement of unity and collaboration between the sexes. Too often to fight for women’s rights are only women and if half of the world population is not involved in change, the change obviously will be long in realizing.

A Women, the United Nations Agency dedicated to women’s empowerment and gender equality, has always undertaken innovative and impactful projects. Born in 2011, a Women is a young UN agency but already the protagonist of capillary programs all over the world who have touched the lives of millions of women: from the contrast to early marriages to the promotion of education and female training, from women’s political participation to the involvement of women in the creation of peace and security, from the fight against practices such as the infibulation to the fight against gender and sexual violence as a weapon of war, a Women is in the first line. A Women is present with his offices in many needy nations. In the absence of territorial offices, it operates through the so -called national committees. Today there are 13 national committees in the world, e A Women Italy It is the latest born.

A year ago, in fact, with determination and passion, our Steering Committee gave birth to the National Committee a Women Italy that I have the honor of chairing.

Our mission is based on three pillars: Advocacyto promote a cultural and social change; Fundraisingcollected to concretely support girls and women around the world; institutional relations with the governmentto bring gender equality to the center of the national political agenda.

The data in Italy report an alarming situation: we are in 87th place in the Wef Gender Gap Report and only 56% of Italian women work against 70% of the European average. To this is added that one in three women suffers some form of violence.

We have therefore chosen to focus on some priorities: work, for example, to stimulate inclusive professional environments and for the promotion of women’s economic autonomy. Then the young people, to encourage leadership and youth protagonism in society through technologies and ai, and the contrast to gender -based violence, with our campaign Orange The World which starts on November 25 of each year. And now, with the involvement of men, we also start with the Heforshe movement.

For too long, men were the real cause – aware or not – of obstacles, discrimination and violence against women.

The discrimination, often invisible, begin at home, take root in emotional relationships, strengthen in the world of work. Since childhood, many girls have been educated in renunciation, silence, the care of others before themselves. In emotional relationships, too many young women suffer control, jealousy, manipulation, mistreatment and forms of violence.

In work, women are often underestimated, underpaid, invisible. Motherhood becomes a watershed, the broken step, which penalizes it. One in 3 women renounces her work in front of maternity, 2 out of 3 in southern Italy. The weight of family care, children and the elderly, is on the shoulders of women.

Is it just an Italian problem? Unfortunately not. One data above all: in no country in the world has gender equality has been achieved and according to the World Economic Forum, it will still take over 130 years to achieve real equality. A despair, if above all we think about how technologies we have revolutionized the world in the last thirty years, seems incredible that these years are needed.

We live in a gender apartheid worldwide, which we must overcome, together. Unfortunately we are even going back. The impositions to deny diversity, equity and inclusion policies worldwide must make us reflect and react. I was born in Iran and I can assure you that it is possible in a short time to go back decades and lose freedom and rights already acquired.

We don’t like the world governed by Alfa War War -War Men. It does not belong to us. Scary us

March Forward. We have to go on. Change is possible. But not alone, we need men.

I do Mia the words of Martin Luther King: “I understood that we would have reached equality only when the whites also decided to take the field in our defense”. So it will be for women: We will win this battle for everyone only when men also take the field. For everyone, together.

Emma Watson in her incredible speech at the launch of Heforshe to the United Nations Assembly said, “If not me, who? If not now, when? ». It is up to us. It is up to us to activate and start this battle, here and now. It is up to us to become activists and protagonists of the change.

It is up to us to fight for us and our daughters. It is up to us, fighting for the daughters around the world.

*Darya Majidi, president of a Women Italy