Milan, April 18, 2026 – A philosophy teacher, Valeria Scommegna, 27, from Barletta, was the victim of a wheelchair theft in Milan. The incident, which occurred while she was in the city, has drawn significant public attention after Scommegna herself reported it on TikTok and Instagram, garnering hundreds of thousands of shares.
Widespread Solidarity and a Call for Action
The National Coordination of Human Rights Teachers (CNDDU) has expressed full solidarity with the teacher and joined the numerous expressions of support. Romano Pesavento, president of the CNDDU, acknowledged Scommegna’s composed and lucid reaction as a significant example of civic responsibility and awareness of rights.
“The CNDDU extends its full and unwavering solidarity to the teacher, joining the many expressions of closeness conveyed in these hours, recognizing in her composed and lucid reaction a significant example of civic responsibility and awareness of rights,” Pesavento stated in a press release. “What emerges is not merely a reprehensible individual act, but a broader fragility in the concrete recognition of rights. The theft of a wheelchair is not comparable to other property crimes. It directly affects a person’s ability to self-determine, to work, to move freely, to live a dignified daily life. To deprive someone of this tool means, in effect, temporarily suspending their active citizenship.”
The Deeper Implications of the Theft
Pesavento further elaborated on the gravity of the situation: “From this perspective, the act takes on a dimension that questions not only individual responsibility, but also the level of ethical maturity of the community in which it occurs.” The CNDDU has made a direct appeal to the perpetrator of the theft, urging the return of the wheelchair.
“The CNDDU issues a clear and direct appeal to the perpetrator of the act: the return of the wheelchair would represent not only an act of material reparation, but a gesture of responsibility that would immediately restore dignity and autonomy to the affected person. To return it means to acknowledge the harm caused and to interrupt a lesion that, otherwise, continues over time. Particularly relevant is the posture adopted by the victim, who chose measured language, oriented towards understanding and not confrontation.”
Pesavento stressed that while Scommegna’s attitude demonstrates a high sense of civic duty, it should not diminish the seriousness of the incident. “On the contrary, it highlights a clear discrepancy between the quality of the individual response and the poverty of the gesture that generated it. The CNDDU deems it necessary to avoid superficial or reductive interpretations of the episode. It is not simply an isolated incident, but a signal that draws attention to a possible disconnect between declared principles and actual behaviors. The full inclusion of people with disabilities, often affirmed at the normative level, still encounters implicit resistance in daily contexts, where rights risk becoming a fragile and reversible condition.”
Broader Societal Issues and the Need for Ethical Education
The CNDDU president also drew parallels with other news events, such as a theft in Taranto where the perpetrator attempted to justify their actions due to personal hardship. Pesavento argued against ethical relativism, asserting that personal need cannot justify violating the rights of others, especially when essential life tools are involved.
In light of the incident, the CNDDU has called for a more intensive investment in human rights education, not merely as an abstract transmission of principles, but as the construction of ethical competencies capable of guiding real behaviors.
The theft of Valeria Scommegna’s wheelchair serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by people with disabilities and the critical importance of societal empathy and respect for fundamental human rights.
