Istat: 15% of Italian Women Experienced Violence Before Age 16

According to data provided by Istat, 15.3% of Italian women, approximately three million, have experienced some form of violence before the age of 16. The statistics indicate that 11.4% of foreign women, equivalent to over 244,000 individuals, have faced similar experiences.

The violence predominantly occurred at the hands of individuals known to the victims, with an analysis highlighting a significant familial effect. Furthermore, it is reported that in more than half of the cases of childhood sexual abuse, the victims did not disclose the incidents to anyone.

In particular, the analysis distinguishes between physical and sexual violence, showing that the latter is more common among Italian women. By combining various forms of violence, an estimated 3.2 million women have been affected by physical or sexual abuse before age 16, of which 1.7 million specifically suffered sexual violence.

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, emphasized the urgency of addressing violence against women during a visit to the Rosa Room at the Misericordia Hospital in Grosseto. He stated that violence represents a primary concern for the country and called for collective commitment to tackle this emergency.

During the visit, Mattarella highlighted the importance of education and training to prevent acts of violence, stressing that schools must play a fundamental role in this context. He reiterated the Republic's commitment to fighting gender-based violence and raising social awareness about the issue.