Rome, February 28 – More than ten thousand people took to the streets of Rome on Thursday to protest against the proposed Bongiorno Bill on sexual violence. The national procession, organized by various women’s rights associations and anti-violence centers, began at Piazza della Repubblica and culminated in Piazza San Giovanni.
“Without Consent is Rape”: The Core Message of the Protest
The central theme of the demonstration revolved around the concept of consent in sexual acts. Banners and placards prominently displayed slogans such as “Without consent is rape” and “Without consent is always violence.” These messages underscored the protesters’ firm belief that any sexual act without explicit consent constitutes violence.
“The reason for this initiative is that we will never accept the denial of our freedom to determine ourselves and to choose what concerns our bodies. Without consent, a sexual act is violence; they are taking us backward,” stated Teresa Manente, head of the legal office of Differenza Donna, one of the organizing groups. She added, “This is a government that is limiting rights and freedoms, we see the security decree or the Caivano decree. We are going back 30 years if women are asked to prove dissent, presuming that women are always consenting to sexual intercourse.”
Broad Support from Unions and Organizations
The protest garnered significant support, with delegations from Amnesty International, CGIL, FIOM, UIL, and Cobas joining the march. Michele De Palma, secretary of FIOM, emphasized the importance of the protest for his union members. “We are in the square because in our factories we have done extraordinary work on the culture of feminism and respect for self-determination. The government’s choice on the Bongiorno Bill is crazy because it does not recognize what is happening in society, namely that women are raped and molested because there is a sexist and patriarchal culture.”
Maurizio Landini, general secretary of CGIL, also attended, stating, “This is a square against the cultural regression underway at the expense of women. We demand that the rape bill be changed, which produces a dangerous step backward, as if violated women had to justify themselves. As if it were their fault.” He further stressed the need for provisions like sex education in schools and prioritizing equal rights in the workplace, criticizing the government’s implementation of the European directive on equal pay for not addressing growing inequalities.
Concerns Over the Bongiorno Bill’s Impact on Women’s Rights
Organizers and participants expressed deep concerns that the Bongiorno Bill, in its current form, could undermine the progress made in recognizing and prosecuting sexual violence. The fear is that the bill might shift the burden of proof onto the victim, requiring them to demonstrate a lack of consent rather than placing the onus on the perpetrator to prove consent was given.
Protesters also voiced broader criticisms of the current government’s policies, arguing that they are leading to a rollback of fundamental rights and freedoms, citing other decrees as examples of this trend.
Calls for Consent-Based Legislation and Educational Initiatives
Beyond the immediate rejection of the Bongiorno Bill, demonstrators called for legislation that unequivocally defines sexual violence based on the absence of consent. Many also highlighted the need for educational initiatives in schools to promote a culture of respect, consent, and gender equality from a young age.
The protest in Rome is part of a wider national movement, with similar demonstrations having taken place in other Italian cities like Bologna and Milan, all united in their opposition to the proposed legislation and their demand for stronger protections for women against sexual violence.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_febbraio_28/contro-il-ddl-bongiorno-migliaia-in-corteo-da-piazza-repubblica-a-san-giovanni-slogan-inni-e-striscioni-senza-consenso-e-stupro-883ced3c-6742-4279-9718-84585ae98xlk.shtml
