(ASCA) – Rome, October 20 – Anti-bullying classes are being held at the Ristori Institute in Naples, and meetings on responsible internet use are being held at the Virgilio High School in Rome. A course on respect against racial and religious intolerance has begun in Ascoli Piceno, while in Pavia, a classical high school student reported incidents he and another student were targeted in the last few months of school because they were gay. Here, Arcigay will hold a series of classes aimed at educating on the issue of diversity. These are just some of the initiatives implemented during the "Week Against Violence," which took place from October 10 to 15, and were presented today by the Minister of Equal Opportunities, Mara Carfagna, and the Minister of Education, Mariastella Gelmini. The week was established in 2009 thanks to an agreement between the Ministries of Equal Opportunities and Education, in collaboration with UNAR (National Office against Racial Discrimination), ACLI, AGEDO, Arcigay, FISH, Telefono Azzurro, Telefono Rosa, ENAR, CIR, and Sucar Drom.
Together, each for their own area of activity, the associations have organized over one hundred series of lessons, in as many schools, from North to South.
Gelmini recalled the teaching of "Citizenship and the Constitution" in schools, highlighting how "respect for the rules, the fight against discrimination and violence are founding principles of our school system.".
Minister Carfagna echoed her sentiments, explaining that "the purpose of the initiative is to reach classrooms and encourage students to discuss sensitive issues such as combating all forms of violence and discrimination, and respecting others regardless of race, religion, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation." Carfagna noted the €250,000 allocated by her department to ensure the initiatives that took place during the week continue for the coming months. Last year, with funding from the Department for Equal Opportunities alone, 259 initiatives were implemented in 15 regions.
