Shocking student survey on feminicide, author: realised immediately I made a mistake, sorry

A poll in a whatsapp group of a high school in Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza) proposes to 'vote' which victim of feminicide 'deserved more' to die, among Giulia Tramontano, Mariella Anastasi and Giulia Cecchettin.

It was the broadcaster Rete Veneta that discovered it, and the screenshot of the chat was circulated in recent days by the association Women For Freedom. 'It is hard to believe,' the association writes, 'because this is not just a stunt in bad taste. It is not a misplaced joke, but a total lack of empathy. We cannot remain silent. Because silence is the best ally of violence'.

"It took me a few seconds to realise the seriousness of my words, but when my parents heard about it and I saw the bewildered expression on their faces, I realised the true extent of what I had written: I thought about how the parents of those women, their families and friends might feel, reading such a message written by someone who didn't even know them, and my blood froze in my veins. Thus the author of the survey, who wrote a letter of apology.

"I can only say that this was not my intention and that, in fact, it lacked any intention or meaning. I wrote without thinking about the meaning of my words, their weight and value. Respect is due to everyone and violence is never justified, not even that of words. I am sorry,' he points out.

'It is hard to believe that such a chat room could really exist. What has emerged arouses dismay and raises profound questions about the path that still remains to be taken to combat gender violence and promote a culture of respect'. This is how the president of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, commented on the case of the Bassano students' chat, in which content regarding the victims Giulia Tramontano, Mariella Anastasi and Giulia Cecchettin was allegedly shared in terms deemed unacceptable. "I am not a jurist," Zaia continued, "but if the investigations should reveal criminally relevant profiles, I hope that all the necessary measures will be taken. Episodes like this are an alarming signal and call for serious reflection. It is essential that, starting at school, education in the fundamental values of civil coexistence and respect for others is promoted. I invite the young people involved to reflect on their actions, to become aware of the seriousness of what has happened and to take responsibility for change. Words, even when uttered in virtual contexts,' he concludes, 'carry weight and can generate very real consequences'.