The event “Violence Against Women: The Cross-Cutting Nature of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Development and Humanitarian Action”, organized by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), has just concluded. This event marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and launched the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.”
The event served as an opportunity to raise awareness and engage with implementing entities of development cooperation and humanitarian aid programs on the importance of actively combating sexual and gender-based violence. Speakers emphasized the need to integrate gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls, and children across all development and humanitarian projects.
Marco Ricardo Rusconi, AICS Director, highlighted the often-overlooked potential of women in economic, social, and cultural development due to persistent stigmas, even in partner countries. He stated, “We must renew the debate to address the distinct needs of women, girls, and children while focusing on their positive contributions, including entrepreneurship and peacebuilding, especially in fragile contexts.”
The event was moderated by Leonardo Carmenati, AICS Deputy Technical Director, who stressed the long journey toward gender equality. He called for profound changes in operations at all levels and urged men to play a crucial role in reshaping cultural, social, and legal frameworks for gender parity.
Alessandra Accardo, a police officer from Naples who survived a violent attack in 2022, shared her testimony: “Victims need to be listened to. After violence, a grueling ordeal often begins, exacerbated by those who exploit personal experiences. It’s essential to stand by them silently and supportively.”
Laura Aghilarre, Deputy Director for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-Chair of the G7 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Development Track, discussed Italy’s strategic efforts for gender equality. She noted that “Gender equality and empowering women and girls are fundamental for economic growth, sustainable development, and inclusive, peaceful societies. Collaborative participation at local, national, and international levels is essential to eliminate violence against women and promote leadership at all levels.”
Marta Collu, Gender Equality Specialist at AICS, presented Italy’s commitments under the Gender Equality Guidelines, emphasizing that achieving the set objectives requires a collective effort from all actors in the sector.
Eugenia Pisani, Gender Expert at AICS Dakar, highlighted their local work in Senegal, including a gender analysis that unveiled barriers women face in accessing basic resources.
Cristiana Carletti, Professor at Roma TRE University, stressed the dual political and technical commitment required to achieve SDG 5 of the 2030 Agenda and its multidimensional goals, while urging early reflection on challenges post-2030.
The day concluded with a training session by OECD-DAC officials Lisa Williams, Jenny Hedman, and Cibele Cesca, part of the Gendernet Secretariat. They reiterated the importance of OECD recommendations on gender equality (2024) and preventing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (2019). Discussions included the Gender Policy Marker as a key tool for assessing contributions to gender equality in development initiatives.
Finally, data on public development aid for gender equality was presented, showcasing Italy’s strong position in humanitarian aid funding, ranking 8th after Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, the UK, Sweden, Norway, and Australia.
