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The interview

Severino: 'Against violence against women we must all be guardians: intervening is a social duty'

The president of the Luiss School of Law inaugurates today the 'three-day' Women economic forum: "We tell girls the stories of women who have succeeded in realising their dreams".

20 November 2024

3' min read

Girls must be told the stories of women who have succeeded in realising their dreams and professionalism, and who can be an example and encouragement to others'. But it is also necessary for the training system and businesses to understand the significance of aligning the female employment rate with European values: 'It would produce a 7.4 per cent increase in GDP, 154.7 billion. It is one of those commitments that is good for everyone: for women, for companies, for the economy'.

Paola Severino, president of the Luiss School of Law, will open the second edition of the Women Economic Forum scheduled from today to Friday at the Roman university named after Guido Carli with a story. An initiative - promoted by G100, one of the most influential international women's networks in promoting women's leadership and economic empowerment - that last year was attended by over 1,500 guests and one million streaming connections and that this time promises to go even further, with its seven plenary sessions dedicated to exploring central issues for the economy and society, from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity, from climate justice to aerospace.

Which woman did you choose to tell and why?

Gioia Rau, a 38-year-old Italian woman I met in Washington. At the age of eight, dictionary in hand, she had written a letter to NASA expressing her desire to become an astronaut. Nasa had replied inviting her to let them know when she would graduate. Once she had taken her astrophysics degree, the US space agency hired her. Today she runs a $300 million a year space research centre, has a supportive husband and two daughters. It is a paradigmatic story of female tenacity. A story that reassures, because it invites women to never feel limited in their ability to cultivate even Stem disciplines and innovative subjects, such as space and artificial intelligence. In this spirit, at the Women Economic Forum we will launch two 'ideathons', hackathons that will see Luiss students engaged in the creation of innovative projects, assisted by expert mentors. Young people must be encouraged to get involved.

Even if the labour market struggles to accommodate them? Italy dropped eight places in the Global Gender Gap Report in 2024, and it is in the dimension of women's economic participation that it struggles the most.

The world of education has a crucial task: to aim at convincing girls that they have the possibility to succeed as well as men and to guide them to areas where their work contribution can be attractive. This also applies to traditional sectors. Including innovative subjects in the curriculum for future lawyers means showing the way forward. And then it is also necessary for companies to understand and metabolise a fact: if the Italian female employment rate were in line with the European one, GDP would increase by 7.4%. We are talking about 154.7 billion of higher added value. Improving women's participation in the labour market is one of those commitments that is good for everyone: for women, for companies, for the economy.

From your observatory as an academic, renowned criminal lawyer and president of the National School of Administration, which phenomenon do you see as most worrying?

Violence. Because the more autonomous and independent women become, the more the reaction of men, instead of being that of appreciation, can be that of aggression. The case of Giulia Cecchettin, killed on the eve of her graduation, is emblematic. We must not tire of repeating what is the indispensable cultural means to prevent violence against women: we must all be guardians. We cannot remain silent as neighbours, as colleagues, as teachers and as students. We must feel our intervention as a social duty.

Sentinels ready to snap...

Yes. But there is also another element. We must not betray women's trust in denouncing their torturers and in tools like the electronic bracelet. It is cause for great alarm when the bracelet does not work, when the Code Red does not activate. We must pay the utmost attention to the effective functioning of the means of violence prevention.

So far what alarms you. But what, on the other hand, makes you confident?

The strength and curiosity of women make me optimistic. When there are worlds to explore, they are ready. I see them in class: they are fascinated by everything that is new and creative, they are good and tenacious. We are in an era of innovation. We must stimulate them to cultivate their strength to build a better future. Not just for them, but for everyone.

Manuela Perroneinviata parlamentare
Luogo: Roma
Lingue parlate: Italiano, inglese
Argomenti: Politica, Parlamento, politica economica, pari opportunità
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