A red bench for Lorena Quaranta

Lorena Quaranta was 27 when she was killed by her boyfriend on March 27th, 2020.

The red bench in Furci Siculo, has the name of the girl. Her parents wanted it to remember their daughter and all the women victims of violence.

Lorena was killed at home, during the lockdown, by the man who was supposed to protect her. All people were shocked. Before dying, her words on socials were: “you must have responsibility and love for life” and these words will be shown in the courtyard of the University in Messina, where she studied Medicine.

Violence against women is an important problem in the world. Everyday, when we watch TV, listen to the radio or surf the Internet, we hear about acts of violence against women. November 25th is the day against gender-based violence since 1981. This date was chosen to remember the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo.

The United Nations define violence against women any act that causes women physical and psychological suffering, in private and public life.

During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, the cases of violence against women increased. Lockdown forced people to stay at home and spend all day together. This drastic change in everyday life, the risk of losing the job, economic instability, isolation, loneliness, and uncertainty, all contributed to anxiety, stress, tensions and arguments. Many women were in ‘lockdown’ at home with their abusers and they could not ask for help.

The problem of violence against women can affect all of us and we must not pretend that nothing happens. Everyone has a role to play. We have to send a strong message that: women are not toys, violence cannot be tolerated and perpetrators will be severely punished.