Universit� degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

“You Can Speak Up. Your (Safe) Space”: the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia launches new university anti-violence help desks

At the heart of the project are two desks dedicated to listening, welcoming, and supporting female students and university staff. The initiative was presented this morning at the Rector’s Palace of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, with the participation of the Rector, Professor Carlo Adolfo Porro; Professor Tindara Addabbo, Delegate for Equal Opportunities; Alessandra Camporota, Councillor for Gender Policies of the Municipality of Modena; Annalisa Rabitti, Councillor for Equal Opportunities of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia; the artist and activist Stefania Spanò – known as Anarkikka – creator of the visual campaign You Can Speak Up. Your (Safe) Space; and representatives from the anti-violence centres Casa delle Donne contro la violenza ODV (Modena) and Nondasola Onlus (Reggio Emilia).

The help desks, active on both university campuses, provide dedicated spaces for the prevention and counteraction of gender-based violence through listening, guidance, and counselling services. They are integrated within the local network of anti-violence centres.
This initiative translates Unimore’s commitment into concrete action, strengthening its inclusion and protection policies in line with Ministerial Decree No. 1170 of 2024, which allocates part of the Ordinary Financing Fund to promoting support services for students.

The project stems from the decision of Unimore’s Board of Directors on 23 May 2025, which approved a programme of actions aimed at enhancing the wellbeing and safety of the university community. Following that decision, Unimore signed two parallel agreements with the municipalities of Modena and Reggio Emilia, involving their respective anti-violence centres, to establish accessible and confidential listening spaces within university premises.

Under the agreement with the Municipality of Modena, the help desk is managed by Casa delle Donne contro la violenza ODV , which has been active in the area for over thirty years. The agreement with the Municipality of Reggio Emilia involves Nondasola Onlus , long responsible for coordinating the local network of reception and protection services for women in need.
Both organisations work in close cooperation with the University through joint monitoring groups tasked with overseeing activities, collecting data, and developing training and awareness-raising initiatives for students, academics, and technical-administrative staff.

Each help desk offers individual consultations, guidance to local services, specialist counselling, and training sessions focused on the prevention of gender-based violence in educational and interpersonal contexts. All spaces have been carefully chosen to ensure a welcoming atmosphere, confidentiality, and proximity to study areas.

The project is accompanied by an institutional communication campaign designed and illustrated by the artist and activist Stefania Spanò – Anarkikka – widely recognised for her commitment to social communication. The campaign, developed in collaboration with the Marco Biagi Foundation, gives the programme a distinctive visual identity with a direct and recognisable language. Posters and illustrations encourage people to speak out, seek help, share experiences, and recognise violence in all its forms through messages such as: “Even if you don’t have the words. Even if it happened right here. Even if everything feels confused.”

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng