VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS: SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THEIR HEALTH AND FUTURE

For over a decade, the Chair of Sociology Institutions at the University of Salerno has been dedicated to raising awareness among young women and men about the issue of gender violence. We have analysed its various forms, whether they are symbolic or systemic, overt or subtle, ultimately culminating in femicide. This year, as part of our ongoing exploration of violence against women and young girls, we aim to delve into its repercussions on their health and overall well-being. Violence, recognized as a determinant of health, has been aptly described as a silent epidemic affecting women not only in Europe but globally. According to European Union statistics, one in three women aged fifteen and older has experienced physical or sexual violence, including instances of rape, murder, and brutality. These tragic occurrences, reported across Europe and beyond, have intensified discussions on strategies for preventing and combatting these crimes. Additionally, there is a growing recognition that violence against women not only exacts a heavy toll on mortality but also inflicts substantial physical and emotional suffering on entire communities. The 2021 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) underscored that violence against women constitutes “a health problem of enormous global dimensions,” further exacerbated by climate change. Furthermore, as early as 2005, the WHO had highlighted the emergence of this genuine social pathology, which carries severe consequences for women’s health and well-being in both the short and long term, as well as for the well-being of their children in the years to come. The resistance to modernization processes, stemming from patriarchal traditions, has led to the persistent rejection of gender equality. This, in turn, underscores the limitations of the equality process, which objectively seeks to reestablish the primacy of male roles. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also an essential condition for an all-inclusive democracy to which everyone can and should belong. By safeguarding the rights of women and girls and enhancing their empowerment through equitable access to education, healthcare, decent employment, and effective representation in decision-making processes, we can foster sustainable economies, which will benefit societies and humanity. All stakeholders involved in this critical situation must commit to innovative approaches to education and training, not limited to schools but encompassing society at large. This entails the development of informative policies aimed at challenging the uncritical objectification of the female body, which has unfortunately been prevalent since childhood. As members of Civil Society contributing to our respective professions and professionalism, we are increasingly cognizant that women require not only health but also protection and justice. This is essential for us to chart a course that addresses a problem often misconstrued due to bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of accountability. Conceiving society as an advocate for victims of violence at all organizational levels, one that ensures the timely and effective prosecution of perpetrators, empowers survivors and lends support to all those committed to assisting them. This, in turn, progressively discourages those who believed they could act with impunity. This meeting aspires to provide an additional platform for discussing the issue of violence against women and young girls, with a particular focus on its implications for health, employment, education, training, and life trajectories, all from the standpoint of equality. Our comprehensive examination of the delays in combatting violence and its multifaceted effects suggests the adoption of multidisciplinary analytical and linguistic frameworks. These frameworks can foster concepts related to the prevention and combatting of violence, along with the development of practices and models that promote the well-being and health of women.
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