The names and surnames of nine female students were written in red marker, alongside the words "Rape List." This list appeared on the wall of the men's bathroom at the Giulio Cesare high school in Rome on Thursday, November 27 , shocking students and teachers at the school.
"In light of the obstinate, vandalistic graffiti that appeared in the restrooms of our high school, we strongly reiterate our condemnation of any gender-based stereotype or violence, whether physical, verbal, psychological, or digital. Giulio Cesare is not open to violence; our high school does not want to be a hotbed of intolerance ," wrote the principal, Paola Senesi , in a circular.
"The Giulio Cesare State High School," the principal continues, "strongly recognizes constitutional values and is committed daily to upholding them, transmitting them, and engaging them with new generations in its classrooms and throughout the community. In addition to our full support for the educational activities that teachers and students intend to implement to once again highlight the positive side of this school, where all forms of violence are banned, we also express our support and heartfelt solidarity with the students involved in this reckless outburst . Giulio Cesare is not open to violence; our high school does not want to be a haven for intolerance; the school will never forget to emphasize how much work still remains to be done to achieve, de jure and de facto, equal dignity between women and men, characterized by profound mutual respect and therefore incompatible with the practice of violence of any kind."
The political class unanimously condemned this, with Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara calling it a "serious" matter that must be "investigated and severely sanctioned." "With the new regulations, schools have all the elements they need to proceed. We will also monitor how the courses on respect for women and relationships are progressing within high schools. These courses, which are mandatory for the first time under the new Guidelines on Civic Education, have yielded significant results in most Italian high schools last year. Respect is an essential value. There is no room for violence and discrimination in Italian schools," the minister added.
(Unioneonline)