“Amami e Basta”: AS Roma, Cinecitta and Municipality VII raise awareness among young people against gender-based violence

The alarming number of victims of gender-based violence shows a very concerning trend: in recent years, younger and younger women have had to resort to anti-violence support centres to ask for help.

Therefore, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, AS Roma organised a new event of the “Just Love Me” programme by involving the students of its Football Academy and of two high schools in Rome: the IIS Leopoldo Pirelli and the Liceo Scientifico Francesco D’Assisi.

The event, which draws inspiration from the club’s “Equality and Inclusion” policy within its Sustainability Strategy, took place in collaboration with Cinecitta, on its famous premises in Via Tuscolana. A total of 140 participants, which included both students and players of AS Roma’s Under-13 and Under-14 teams, watched the film “Mia” at the Sala Fellini. The film was about the toxic relationship between two teenagers that deteriorates and has extreme ramifications.

This choice was made in the hope that witnessing the dramatic story of someone their own age would prompt the young audience to think long and hard about gender-based violence.

Before the film, which has won various film awards, there was an introductory greeting by the President of Municipality VII Francesco Laddaga and a video message by the film’s lead actor, Edoardo Leo (who was on the set of another film). Then, at the end of the screening, its director and screenwriter Ivano De Matteo explained the meaning behind the film to the students: he explained that naming the main character “Mia” was a way to encourage the audience to think about the concept of possessiveness, which often triggers violent reactions.

Then came the moving and meaningful words of MP Lucia Annibali, one of the most prominent activists on this issue as she was personally a victim of stalking and attempted murder, which caused her permanent injuries.

To reassert AS Roma’s total and constant commitment in countering this serious problem, the club decided to donate a red bench to Cinecitta, as it is the symbol of the fight against gender-based violence. The award ceremony was attended by Chief Executive Officer of Cinecitta Manuela Cacciamani and an AS Roma delegation that included coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Chief Operating Officer Maurizio Lombardo and Head of Women’s Football Betty Bavagnoli, who then stayed to speak with the students and explain how sport can set an example in spreading a culture based on respect and empowering women. 

At the end of the day, AS Roma’s psychologists Alessia Giuliani and Rita Basso further discussed the culture of respect and equality with the boys and girls at the event; they provided them with practical tools to recognise, prevent and counter violence in all its forms, including digital violence. Finally journalist Chiara Zucchelli talked about the challenges and critical issues women journalists face in the sports industry, which is often unfairly considered a field that belongs exclusively to men.

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