Gender equity: the commitment of the Intesa Sanpaolo Charitable Fund
Under the Bank’s chairmanship, Intesa Sanpaolo's Charitable and Social and Cultural Works Fund has organised a meeting dedicated to the key priorities for achieving real gender equity in Italy.
Employment, security and integration were among the main topics addressed at the event, which was attended by representatives of numerous Third Sector Entities (ETS) supported by the Fund, including the Rete Donna Association, the Libellula Foundation and the Pangea Foundation.
"Jobs, security and integration are the pillars on which to build a fairer and more inclusive society. It is only through cooperation between institutions, businesses and associations that we can hope to offer everyone, especially women, migrants and people in difficulty, the chance of a better future. Our goal is that the projects we support become models for future initiatives, capable of producing lasting change”
Giovanna Paladino, Senior Director of the Intesa Sanpaolo Charity Fund
Since 2017, the Charity Fund has disbursed around €14 million to 570 projects aimed at promoting the social and economic inclusion of women, combating gender-based violence and supporting women's empowerment. This ongoing commitment reflects the Group's desire to contribute to a fairer society by addressing crucial issues through partnerships with non-profit organisations.
The three focuses of the meeting organised by the Charitable Fund, dedicated to the priorities for achieving real gender equity in Italy
Employment and economic equality
In Italy, the female employment rate is the lowest in Europe (in July 2024 it was 54%, a far cry from Europe’s 70%). Even more alarming is the inactivity rate, which stands at 42.4%, with almost half of Italian women not having a job nor indeed even looking for one.
To address this situation, the Fund has supported several projects in recent years for the employment of women, migrants and victims of violence.
170 projects, totalling €4 million, were financed with the aim of strengthening skills, increasing self-esteem and offering career guidance. In addition, support was provided for individual business start-ups, housing and legal services, and work-life balance interventions.
Safety and combating gender-based violence
The second topic addressed during the event was women's safety, in particular gender-based violence, which affects not only the direct victims, but society as a whole.
According to ISTAT's SDG report, 81.6% of those harassed at work are women, especially young women, often unable to defend themselves due to inexperience. It was also found that many women report feeling lonely and not knowing where to turn. Between January and June 2024, domestic violence increased by 5% compared to the same period in 2023.
The resources dedicated to these women, such as anti-violence centres and shelters, are fundamental, but not yet sufficient.
To combat this phenomenon, the Charity Fund has financed 200 projects for women and minors who are victims of violence, with an investment of €5.8 million, supporting anti-violence centres, counters and shelters, offering psychological assistance, legal support and paths to help these women regain their working and living autonomy. Some of the most important activities include self-help workshops and empowerment courses designed to increase self-awareness and self-confidence with the ultimate aim of contributing to the achievement of working, living and social autonomy.
Integration of migrant women
Finally, the third topic addressed was integration, particularly that of migrant women who face enormous difficulties in finding work, often greater than those of foreign men, despite being on average better educated.
According to the most recent data, when they do manage to work, they are mainly employed in domestic work or care services, with lower than average wages. In the domestic sector, 70% of employees are foreigners, and 85% of these are women. Many migrant women suffer violence and a large percentage of those housed in shelters are victims of abuse, often sexual.
In recent years, the Fund has financed 200 projects totalling €4 million for the social and economic inclusion of migrants and unaccompanied minors. These projects focused on Italian language courses, vocational training and programmes to facilitate access to the employment market.
Special attention was paid to unaccompanied minors and trafficked women.
Last updated 30 September 2024 at 16:55:21
