Cecchettin Foundation together with Coop to combat violence against women
The memorandum of understanding between the Foundation and Coop was presented in Rome: it starts at the end of the month in Padua, the city where Giulia studied before being killed by her ex-boyfriend
4' min read
4' min read
Feminicides and sexist websites 'are not the same thing' but belong to the 'same thread', the same social matrix. This is how Gino Cecchettin, father of Giulia, the student killed in 2023 by her ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta, and today president of the Foundation dedicated to her, has dedicated clear words to the affaire of sexist sites, a root that goes "from behaviour that seems banal or goliardic, such as online groups that spread intimate images without consent or reduce women to objects, to the most serious forms such as feminicides". To combat male violence against women, the Foundation together with Coop has put a six-pronged strategy on the table, six strategies to combat it all from a prevention perspective. For Gino Cecchettin, Giulia's father and president of the Foundation that bears her name, this is the basis on which to work. The first package of actions was presented in Rome in the Foreign Press Room through a partnership - and a memorandum of understanding - uniting business and civil society.
The agreement, made official in early September 2025, represents a further step in the 'Say, do, love' campaign launched by Coop last spring with the support of Nomisma. "Say, do, love," explains Cecchettin, "which is not to be loved, it is to love, which is a verb directed towards others: and that is exactly what we should do because we tend to think when we speak of love of something in the act of receiving and instead love is in the act of giving and it is in this act that the good of the community and the good of the society in which we live is done". And that the issue is shared is certified by a survey conducted on a national sample had shown that 70% of Italians are in favour of introducing relationship education as a compulsory subject in schools. A request that the cooperative world intends to support with targeted projects and legislative initiatives.
The projects
.The key word is 'prevention'. "Prevention means building educational projects, nurturing awareness and spreading sensitivity," explain Coop, "starting in the workplace and then extending the message to the entire community. The pilot project will start on 30 September in Padua, the city where Giulia Cecchettin studied. Around 150 employees of five Coop Alleanza 3.0 and Coop Reno shops will be involved in a training course organised by the Foundation. An initial survey will be used to photograph participants' knowledge and perceptions on the topic of gender-based violence. This will be followed by five progressive modules: from recognising inappropriate behaviour to understanding harassment and promoting an inclusive and respectful culture.
The objective is simple and ambitious at the same time: to build a replicable model on a national scale. "A path aimed at the person rather than the employee," the Foundation emphasises, "capable of affecting everyday relationships and leaving lasting traces.
The Manifesto
The training will also result in a 'Manifesto against gender-based violence', drawn up by a working group open to cooperatives, organisations, enterprises and associations that wish to commit themselves to the issue. But there is not only the internal dimension. Coop and the Foundation are also aiming to involve consumers: in November, an awareness-raising campaign will start in shops. Almost 90,000 canvas bags with a design created by Giulia will be distributed to customers, and part of the proceeds will go to support new activities of the Foundation. A symbolic gesture to bring Giulia's voice into the daily lives of millions of people.
The Bill
.The agreement also ties in with the popular initiative bill 'Diritto a stare bene', which aims to establish a national public psychology service with a permanent presence in schools. Coop announces its support for the signature collection, which must reach at least 50,000 signatures by 10 December. 'We are proud to present today the agreement with the Cecchettin Foundation,' says Maura Latini, president of Coop Italia. 'Spreading a culture against gender violence and taking preventive action is fundamental. In 2024, 97 women were killed by partners or family members: one every 3.7 days. It should come as no surprise that Coop chooses to commit itself on this front, combining economic logic and social responsibility'.
