RAVENNA. After the offices activated in Bologna and Forlì to combat gender violence, the third office dedicated to combating forms of discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation arrives in Ravenna
Starting from May 28th, every Tuesday from 5pm to 7pm in Via Tombesi dall’Ova 55, the entire university community (students, technical-administrative staff, teaching and research staff, collaborators in various capacities with the University, CEL, readers, teaching and linguistic tutors, research fellows) will be able to count on this new space for protected listening and support.
The service is free and offers individual interviews in a protected environment, telephone listening, information on the services, figures and institutional bodies of the University, the possibility of interaction with the network of local services and local associations, psychological support and basic information on legal aspects.
All services are also in English and French and guaranteed online for multicampus coverage.
«The opening on the Ravenna Campus of a listening and reception desk for victims of discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, and open to receiving reports of any form of discrimination, demonstrates the commitment of the University in combating and preventing all phenomena of violence, marginalization and abuse that may concern all components of our community – comments Prof. Cristina Demaria, Rector’s Delegate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. – The fact that the inauguration takes place on the World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development also allows us to strongly reiterate the University’s commitment to promoting respect for the fundamental rights of all people with a view to equity , sustainability, inclusion and respect for diversity, as clearly indicated by principle 4 of the University’s Strategic Plan. From this perspective, the Ravenna desk offers an important contribution to strengthening our commitment to the recognition, prevention and, when necessary, the reporting of all unacceptable behaviors that may occur in our places of study and work.”
«We are happy that the University has chosen to open a university office against LGBTQIA+ discrimination on the Ravenna Campus – comments the professor. Mario Neve, President of the Ravenna Campus. – Our Campus has always been sensitive to the issue of inclusion and the valorization of diversity, as well as the fight against any form of discrimination or violence. I am therefore certain that we will be able to offer an effective contribution to making our Campus increasingly welcoming and inclusive.”
«The idea of opening a help desk on our Campus was born from discussions with the student component and from listening to their requests – adds Prof. Annalisa Furia, LM I-Contact Coordinator and member of the EDI Working Group – and I think represents a virtuous example of how dialogue within our community and with the city reality is a precious and essential resource to make our University increasingly inclusive and able to respond promptly to emerging problems”.
«The Rainbow Map 2024, a report published by ILGA-Europe that ranks 49 European countries based on their policies and laws regarding the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, revealed that Italy has slipped to 36th place. – states Ciro Di Maio, Coordinator of the LGBTQIA+ Anti-Discrimination Center of Ravenna – The launch of a desk to combat discrimination on the Ravenna campus of the University of Bologna, and the future activities envisaged by the agreement, open a glimmer of progress in the protection of rights and well-being that should be guaranteed to every person. We are very happy with this common path and very confident in the implications that this will bring to the university community and therefore to society as a whole.”
