The Italian Banking Association (HELP) initiated a national program to combat economic violence, one of the most insidious forms of discrimination against women.
Many initiatives have been launched:
- Dissemination of digital materials and awareness campaigns.
- Joining the global campaign “Orange the World” of UN Women to more forcefully affirm the commitment to gender equality and female self-determination.
- Creation of a dialogue table with beyond 35 reality between institutions, banks, businesses and the third sector.
- Memorandum of understanding with banking unions which provides for concrete measures such as the suspension of mortgage payments for victims of violence and support for reintegration into work.
These actions are part of a broader commitment to social sustainability and financial inclusion, with education and training programs aimed at both banking staff and customers.
The “Women in red” initiative at Palazzo Pirelli
The 24 November 2025, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Lombardy Regional Council hosted the installation “Women in Red”. Mannequins dressed in red were placed in the spaces of Palazzo Pirelli as a symbol of the victims of feminicide.
This initiative transformed an institutional place into a stage of memory and denunciation, with a strong visual and emotional impact. The objective was to draw the attention of citizens and institutions to the need for constant and shared commitment.
Two complementary approaches
- Economic and social (HELP): provide concrete tools for the financial autonomy of women, essential condition to escape from situations of violence.
- Cultural and symbolic (Pirelli Palace): create collective awareness through visual and public gestures that shake public opinion.
Together, these initiatives show how the fight against gender violence requires multilevel actions: from practical and daily support to cultural and institutional mobilization.
The combination of the commitment of the banking world and the strength of public initiatives demonstrates that the fight against gender violence cannot be limited to just one area. We need an integrated approach that unites education, inclusion, memory and denunciation, so that every woman can live free and autonomous.
Alex Gaetani
Read more:
Banks for inclusion – Against economic violence
ABI-Unions memorandum of understanding to combat violence against women