MESSINA – The first center in Messina for men who commit gender violence. It’s called “Cuav” and was inaugurated yesterday. Promoting the “No More Alone” project is “Evaluna Aps”, a social promotion association, which won a tender from the regional department of Family, Social Policies and Labour. A call to strengthen the management and recovery activities of men who are perpetrators of violence. The president of the association, the social worker Cettina Restuccia, explains: “It involves the launch of psycho-educational courses in favor of men who spontaneously turn to it or who are sent or referred to it by other institutions and services in the area” .
The association includes social workers, psychologists and professionals from the legal, commercial and human sciences areas. The Messina Prefecture, the Police Headquarters, the Court, the Messina Prosecutor’s Office and the Office for External Criminal Enforcement joined the project. Restuccia explains: “Its purpose, as foreseen by the Red Code. it is the elimination or reduction of the risk of recurrence of violent and abusive behavior towards women and minors and the recognition of the value of social and peaceful participation in community life”.
“Enough gender violence, let’s aim for a cultural change”
The president of Evaluna continues: “With our commitment, we are aiming for a change of perspective with respect to combating gender violence, acting directly on the perpetrators and therefore preventing the risk of a relapse into violent behavior on the part of men. We are aiming for a change in mentality, approach and culture, aimed at excluding violence and abuse from relationships.”
“Among the local bodies that wanted to support the initiative was also the Cooperative Credit Bank of Pachino, which allocated to Cuav the donation of a sum used to purchase a printer and to air condition the rooms and Di Nicolò Edizioni which supports the association in the graphics and advertising part”, the association says. Support also from the University of Messina and the ATM.
During the inauguration, on Friday 14 June, the premises of the Center were blessed by Fra Giuseppe Maggiore, chaplain of the central station, and the representative of the Islamic Center of Messina, Iman Sadeq, in the presence of the institutional authorities.
Anyone wishing to contact Evaluna, as part of the project No More Alone, you can do so by calling 3270335777 and email [email protected]. The project office is in via Santa Marta n. 133 and will be open to the public on Thursdays, from 3pm to 6pm. For privacy reasons, you must book an appointment.
