Education Minister Giuseppe Valditaraon Friday recalled the condition of women in countries where basic freedoms are still denied but also in Western societies where the macho culture is slow to pass.
"Today we celebrate International Women's Day, which should be a day of reflection and awareness," said Valditara in a video message to the Italian school community.
"We must not turn our eyes away from the condition of women where freedom and the rule of law are lacking.
"Too many women in the world are still denied basic freedoms, too many are persecuted if they do not want to submit to the guardians of so many illiberal and intolerant revolutions," he continued.
However, the minister said it is also necessary to start looking at "the discrimination that women suffer in Western societies".
"I am thinking of a male chauvinist culture that struggles to abandon us and the daily forms of mobbing and professionaldebasement," he continued.
The situation, said Valditara, calls for "all of us to commit to ensuring full and genuine equality and dignity for all women".
"We must bring back the culture of respect starting in schools: genuine, non -formal respect, of the sort that recognizes in the other a 'you'.
"Educating in respect is one of the objectives I intend to pursue in my government action," said the minister.
Relationship education in Italian schools received new impetus last year following a spate of high-profile femicides including the brutal kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin by her former boyfriend Filippo Turetta in November.
On that occasion, Valditara announced a "big mobilization" to prevent and stem machismo, sexism and psychological and physical violence against women through the project 'Educating in Relationship'.
The scheme includes civic education on relationships from elementary to high school and a specific project targeting high school students through discussion groups.
Teachers are also being asked to introduce the culture of respect in all school activities, he added.
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