A Heart-Wrenching Goodbye: 8,000 Mourn Giulia, Slain by an Ex
Gino C., father to Giulia (†22), the engineering student brutally killed by her ex-boyfriend Filippo T. (†22), is still haunted by the memory of that fateful night. The image of his daughter's battered, lifeless body remains etched in his mind. "He hurt her, and I couldn't help her. She was so small. He was much stronger with a knife. And I wasn't there to protect her," he laments.
Gino, a businessman, feels a responsibility to fight for change. "There are many Giulias in the world. I have to do something for them. Change something and talk to the men. They are the problems," he shares.
Struggling with Grief and Regret
As Giulia's funeral procession winds its way through the town square, Gino wrestles with feelings of guilt and self-doubt. "I wonder if I could have done more, if maybe I should have listened to her more, if I misjudged Filippo," he thinks.
A Series of Red Flags
August had seen Giulia breaking up with Filippo, but she continued to see him, trying to dispel his suicidal thoughts. Gino received a warning that Filippo was scaring Giulia, becoming aggressive, but only verbally. Giulia always felt guilty for making his life difficult.
A thousand voices call for Justice
On November 11, around 11:15 p.m., Giulia's cries for help were heard 150 meters from her parents' house. A witness called the emergency services, but their efforts were diverted by a bar brawl. The police's slow response left a bitter taste in the air.
A Nation's Mourning
8,000 people gathered outside the church where Giulia's funeral took place, laying down flowers, toys, letters, and candles as a testament to her life. Her family was surrounded by a sea of grief, mourning the loss of their beloved daughter.
A Call to Action
Gino now calls for a change in societal attitudes. When a woman is raped, the question often turns to what she did to provoke it, he critiques. "At home, children need to be taught that there is no difference between men and women, they are equal," he insists.
The Need for Swift and Effective Police Action
Gino urges the police to intervene immediately when a woman calls for help. His revelation that a witness heard Giulia's cries but was overlooked due to a bar brawl stirs up feelings of anger and frustration.
A Man's Struggle with His Loss
Gino admits to moments of weakness, of crying in solitude and later finding strength in his anger. He is now a symbol of resilience, a man driven by the loss of his daughter to fight for justice and equality.
Italy's Femicide Issue Uncovered
In the last 60 years, Italy has seen a consistent rate of femicide, with current or ex-partners accounting for the majority of these cases. The country's gender equality score of 69.2 ranks it 14th among European countries, indicating that women still face significant disadvantages. The police intervention in these cases is often inadequate, resulting in delays and underreporting, which continues to obscure the true extent of the issue.
The Silent Scream
While the news of Giulia's death spread across Italy, Women's rights advocates and activists used text-to-speech technology to spread awareness about violence against women, hoping to reach even the most remote corners of Italy. Local police vowed to strengthen their efforts in preventing such heinous acts and to assist Italian authorities in any way possible.
Lastly, the family ventured to Venice for a short respite, seeking solace in the city of canals and romance, only to find their hearts still heavy with sorrow.
References:
[1] Enrichment Data: Statistics and Trends of Femicide in Italy.
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