Old and New Forms of Discrimination, Analysis and Proposals (WFWP Italy)
Written by: Elisabetta Nistri
On March 24, Elisabetta Nistri, President of Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) Italy, was invited by Dr. Carmelo Mandalari to speak at the conference dedicated to university students on "Old and New Forms of Discrimination, Analysis and Proposals." It was organized by GS Flames Gold and CREG (Centre for Economic and Juridical Research of the University of Rome - Tor Vergata), in collaboration with the Master MEDIM (Master in Economics, Law and Intercultural Migration), in agreement with IDOS (Study and Research Centre) and the San Pio V Institute, in the occasion of the International Day Against Any Form of Racism and Discrimination.
The conference took place at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
40 students in person and 35 students joined remotely.
Notable speakers present were:
-Prof. Enzo Rossi - President of CREG - Centre for Economic and Legal Research
-Prof. Paolo Iafrate - Contract Professor at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata".
-Dr. Carmelo Mandalari - Secretary GS Flames Gold
-Dr.Luca DI Sciullo - President of the IDOS Study and Research Centre and "Voci di confine".
-Dr. Benedetto Coccia - San Pio V Institute
-Dr. Lucia Capuzzi - Journalist of Avvenire
It was a very engaging conference. It provided students with all the tools required to understand how hospitality for migration flows is regulated and the specific laws to apply for asylum in the event of fleeing war zones. Unfortunately, there seem to be first and second class categories of refugees.
Elisabetta Nistri, having presented WFWP's mission, analyzed the discrimination against women that exists, to this day, in many countries. She cited the situation in Afghanistan, where women are forbidden to go to school, mothers have no access to jobs, or means of providing food for their children, and are permitted to be treated only by female doctors, risking their lives when giving birth or suffering from trivial illnesses.
WFWP Italy contributed to solving some risky situations involving disadvantaged families through a substantial donation to the journalist Barbara Schiavulli who went to Afghanistan and besides reporting news, took care of many extreme cases. Mrs. Nistri shared that our society is partly responsible and that it is essential to educate young people on the value of respect for themselves and others from an early age. So it is done in the character-building program that WFWP promotes to secondary and high school students. She then addressed the reality of women who have been raped as spoils of war in the Balkans. Sadly, this continues to occur in many areas in the villages of the Congo. Next, she cited the phenomena of female genital mutilation, girls kidnapped by ISIS in Nigeria, and child brides.
In comparison to all of this, our world feels like a paradise. We certainly attained many accomplishments already. However, there is still work to do on equal pay and the right to motherhood, which should not be considered an obstacle to keeping or obtaining a job.
WFWP Italy proposes solutions such as the fundamental access to education for all young people, an education that is not only cultural and scientific but also values-based to help young people build a mature and harmonious character, capable of respecting others. To help women in disadvantaged countries and prevent immigration, it would be helpful to offer microfinancing so that they can initiate economic activities, becoming thus able to support their families, educate their children and avoid having to emigrate.
