LEGACOOP AND ARCIGAY SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY
A new step to strengthen cooperation's commitment to valorizing diversity, promoting rights, and building increasingly inclusive and accessible work environments.
Bologna, June 22, 2026 – The second edition of the DEIA Coop Camp - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility, promoted by Legacoop to explore the major transformations currently underway in the world of work and the role of cooperatives in building increasingly equitable, inclusive, and accessible environments.
Two intense days of discussion involving representatives from institutions, academia, trade unions, the third sector, and cooperatives, called upon to reflect on the issues of gender equality, welfare policies, birth rates, sharing care burdens, accessibility, and the valorization of diversity.
The proceedings, opened by the President of Legacoop Simone Gamberini and introduced by the President of the Equal Opportunities Commission Annalisa Casino, have seen alternating contributions from experts such as Alessandro Hinna, professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Cathy La Torre, lawyer and civil rights activist, Sara Miccoli by ISTAT, Rossana Dettori, President of the Equal Opportunities Commission of the CNEL, Marta Battioni, Vice President of Legacoop Sociali, Gianna Zappi of UNI, the Hon. Cecilia D'Elia, leader of the PD group in the Seventh Commission (Culture and cultural heritage, public education, scientific research, entertainment and sport) in the Senate and Vice President of the bicameral commission of inquiry on feminicides, Dina Taddia of Weworld, as well as representatives of the trade union world, associations and the new cooperative generations.
Particularly significant was the discussion dedicated to the transformation of equality, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies and the challenges that organizations and businesses are called upon to face in an international context characterized by strong cultural and political tensions regarding rights and the recognition of differences.
It is precisely in this scenario, and on the occasion of the Pride Month, that Legacoop has chosen to take an important step, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Arcigay, the result of a process of discussion and collaboration developed over recent years.
The signing of the agreement takes on a particularly significant significance at a time when, globally and nationally, the issues of inclusion, the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, the fight against discrimination, and the valorization of diversity are increasingly at the center of public debate and, in many contexts, the subject of setbacks, polarization, and cultural resistance.
Through the Protocol, Legacoop and Arcigay are committed to promoting joint initiatives for awareness-raising, training, research, and the dissemination of best practices aimed at building more inclusive, safe, and respectful workplaces and communities.
«"Cooperation was born to include and give opportunities to people," declared the President of Legacoop Simone Gamberini. "The signing of this Protocol represents a choice consistent with our identity and the founding values of the cooperative movement. At a time when, in many parts of the world, seemingly established gains are being called into question, we believe it is important to clearly state that valuing differences and combating all forms of discrimination are essential elements for the quality of democracy, work, and social coexistence.".
«"The signing of this Protocol represents a concrete commitment to building work environments in which every person can feel recognized, respected and free to express their identity," declared the President of Arcigay Natasha Maesi. "Inclusion isn't a slogan, but a daily practice that requires training, listening, and shared responsibility. No one should be forced to choose between their work and their authenticity: valuing differences means strengthening people's well-being and organizations' ability to innovate and grow.".
«Training and awareness-raising are the most effective tools to prevent discrimination and stereotypes in the workplace», he added Manuela Macario, head of labor at Arcigay's national secretariat. "This agreement creates the conditions to support cooperatives on a concrete path of cultural and organizational growth, disseminating best practices and promoting increasingly inclusive work environments.".
Alongside this commitment, Legacoop has embarked on a process of evolving and strengthening its policies regarding equality, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The goal is to make the oversight of these issues within the association increasingly effective, integrated, and responsive to the needs of cooperatives, and to support the transformations of society and the world of work.
«The challenges we face require an increasing capacity to read and address the different forms of inequality and discrimination in an integrated way» comments Annalisa Casino, President of Legacoop's Equal Opportunities Commission. "This is why we have decided to embark on a process to strengthen our commitment to these issues and to evolve the tools Legacoop uses to monitor them. The goal is to enhance the work we've done in recent years and make it even more impactful, integrated, and responsive to the needs of cooperatives and their members. It's not about overcoming what we've built so far, but rather strengthening, expanding, and enabling it to increasingly effectively address the challenges of equality, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.". As part of this process, Legacoop will also evaluate how to evolve the Equal Opportunities Commission model to respond increasingly effectively and comprehensively to DEIA challenges, leveraging the contributions of the association's diverse experiences. This reflection will not only focus on the content, but also on the Commission's model, role, and functioning, with the aim of making it an increasingly capable tool for accompanying the transformation of cooperatives and interpreting the evolving needs of cooperative enterprises and their members.
This process is part of the major developments in European and international policies on equality, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, which promote increasingly integrated approaches to combat discrimination and promote the full participation of all people in economic and social life.
By signing the Memorandum with Arcigay and initiating this process of strengthening, Legacoop confirms its commitment to consolidating its role as an organization capable of interpreting the changes in contemporary society, promoting a cooperative culture based on rights, respect for differences, participation, and the valorization of each individual.
Over the coming months, this work will be developed in close collaboration with Generazioni Legacoop and Legacoop Sociali, with the aim of building an increasingly shared vision and more coordinated action within the association system. This process will also strengthen the integration of Legacoop's diverse experiences and perspectives, making cooperatives' commitment to equality, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility increasingly effective and responsive to new challenges.
A commitment born from the belief that a more inclusive, accessible cooperation capable of valorizing all differences is also a stronger, more innovative cooperation capable of generating value for people, communities and territories.
