For the International day against violence towards women, the FIGC has contributed with a series of initiatives - on the pitch and via the media - to raise awareness about the issue. For some time now, the Department for Equal Opportunities has set up the 1522 helpline: a free-to-use service number with the aim of developing a widespread network to combat the issue and spread awareness about intra- and extra-family violence towards women. The awareness campaign promoted by the FIGC will also see the support of many of its affiliates: Lega B, Lega Pro, Lega Nazionale Dilettanti, AIA, AIAC, Women's Football Division, Paralympic and Experimental Football Division, Technical Sector and Youth and School Sector.

Over the weekend, during matches on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November organised by the Women's Football Division (Serie A TIM, Serie B, Primavera), when the teams are lined up on the pitch, a match official will display on the board - the one usually used for substitutions - the number 1522.

“The world of football is a tool for conveying a message of civilisation,” says FIGC president Gabriele Gravina. “Violence towards women is a deep wound on the heart of our community. We have to invest in culture and education, especially among the young, because you cannot consider a society to be truly civilised when this crime is being perpetuated”.

The FIGC, for the International Day for Elimination of Violence towards Women, has developed a project based on relevant data: the number of cases of abuse, physical and psychological ill-treatment and acts of harassment, all of which are continuously increasing. According to ISTAT, in the last year 44.1 per cent of women suffered some form of physical or sexual violence, while 52% were victims of their partner or ex (source: State Police Report 2021). In 2022 alone, there were 104 feminicides (source: Crime Police Report), numbers of which Italy is not proud of.

For this reason, the Italian tricolour flag has been redesigned giving more space to the red rectangle (the official colour of the International day against violence towards women), to denounce and show in an impactful way the numbers confirming the current situation. Calling 1522, the number to combat violence against women, can save a life.

*campaign by Independent Ideas, creative agency of Publicis Groupe

For the campaign video click here