If I Don’t Want To, You Can’t

The new campaign by the “Una Nessuna Centomila” Foundation for November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The demonstration, organized by Non Una di Meno, is scheduled for SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 at 2:30 PM in Piazzale Ostiense, Rome.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Una Nessuna Centomila Foundation launches the campaign “If I don’t want to, you can’t,” an awareness initiative that aims to spread a clear message: consent is not a concession, it is a right.

How many times in the face of rape have we heard: “why didn’t she scream? why didn’t she move? why didn’t she try to escape?” Or again, how many times in the face of violence women have been told: “why did you let him come up to your place? but didn’t you say you liked him? sorry, but did you really show up dressed like that to the date?”
A total reversal of responsibility. The lack of reaction is interpreted as willingness to endure the violence, and the right to change one’s mind is not even considered.
The campaign tries to highlight exactly these situations, putting us in front of a choice. It confronts us with a story, a set of cases in which many of us may unfortunately recognize ourselves.
“If I don’t want to, you can’t” is a clear declaration of our self-determination, but also a public and collective denunciation of a crime that is committed every day on our skin.

“Consent is a fundamental and inviolable right,”
said Giulia Minoli, President of the Una Nessuna Centomila Foundation.
“In Italy, the numbers are alarming: in 2023, over 4,500 cases of sexual violence were reported, recording a 5% increase compared to the previous year.
Added to this is the dramatic rise in the phenomenon of non-consensual sharing of intimate material, which saw a 7% increase, with more than 1,200 reports.
No less alarming is the data relating to sexual harassment, both physical and online, which has affected one in three women.
However, these figures tell only the tip of the iceberg, as many women, overwhelmed by fear or fear of being judged, do not find the courage to report.

With the campaign ‘If I don’t want to, you can’t,’ we want to reiterate that every ‘no’ must be heard and respected.
Silence can no longer be considered an act of consent.
It is necessary to undertake a cultural change to recognize and protect the dignity and freedom of every woman.”

To give greater resonance to this campaign and strongly support its message, numerous artists and activists — including well-known faces from the world of culture, music, and entertainment — have decided to join the initiative, giving face and voice to those who often cannot be heard, because silence can no longer be a choice.

Among them: Manuel Agnelli, Amadeus, Luca Barbarossa, Marco Bonini, Dario Brunori, Massimiliano Caiazzo, Caterina Caselli, Gino Castaldo, Michela Cescon, Chiara Civello, Paola Cortellesi, Andrea Delogu, Emanuela Fanelli, Anna Ferzetti, Anna Foglietta, Nino Frassica, Maria Chiara Giannetta, Giorgia, Raphael Gualazzi, Paola Iezzi, Jack La Furia, Achille Lauro, Maurizio Lastrico, Edoardo Leo, Lucariello, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Astrid Meloni, Ermal Meta, Claudia Pandolfi, Piero Pelù, Vittoria Puccini, Luisa Ranieri, Paola Turci, Alessio Vassallo, Beatrice Zerbini, Luca Zingaretti.

The campaign “If I don’t want to, you can’t,” created by the HOBO agency, represents an invitation to reflect and a call to action for every individual who has the task of actively contributing to a permanent cultural change that does not stop on November 25, but extends into everyday life.

The Una Nessuna Centomila Foundation carries out this mission also through other projects that expand its scope and address the issue of gender-based violence through an educational and cultural approach, such as:

• “Una Nessuna Centomila, in Arena”, the musical event that brought together major voices of Italian music against violence against women in support of anti-violence centers. The event, along with a fundraising campaign via SMS, enabled the Foundation to collect and distribute significant resources to anti-violence centers.

• “From Silence to Action”, a project created with Valore D that supports companies in adopting effective policies against gender-based violence, providing concrete tools to act and create a support network against a phenomenon that persists in society and the workplace.
  
• “The Struggle of Being in the Middle”, an affectivity education initiative aimed at lower secondary schools, designed to raise students’ awareness on topics such as emotional management, interpersonal relationships, and the prevention of digital violence, through workshops led by trainers, educators, and anti-violence center staff.
  
• “The Artistic Lab of the Una Nessuna Centomila Foundation meets the Anti-Violence Centers”, a project born from the desire of the many artists who work alongside the Foundation, with the goal of bringing visibility and attention to the importance of anti-violence centers active throughout the national territory.
  Through direct contact with the staff of these centers, the initiative seeks to raise public awareness about their crucial role in the fight against gender-based violence.

For Saturday, November 23 at 2:30 PM in Piazzale Ostiense in Rome, the appointment is the demonstration against violence against women. The Foundation will be present with its banner and awaits all its many supporters.

Through the numerous initiatives promoted by the Una Nessuna Centomila Foundation throughout the year, the goal is to involve society as a whole in a path of awareness and cultural transformation.
Every individual is called upon to actively contribute to the fight against gender-based violence, promoting a safer and more respectful society, free from all forms of violence and gender discrimination.