Rome to host rally and events to protest violence against women.This weekend, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, the feminist movement Non Una di Meno will stage a rally in Rome.The demonstration on Saturday 22 November, to "sabotage wars and patriarchy", is scheduled to start in Piazza della Repubblica at 14.30 before making its way to Piazza di Porta di San Giovanni. Events in Rome Events and initiatives to raise awareness about the scourge of gender-based violence are already under way in the Italian capital. The Facciamo Luce campaign includes a week of events at the Mondadori Bookstore in Piazza Cola di Rienzo 81/83 and at the Galleria Alberto Sordi. The Casa delle Donne hosting various initiatives against patriarchal violence, until 27 November. My Name is Nevenka by Icíar Bollaín, a film that tells the true story of the first Spanish woman to report a politician for sexual harassment at work, will be the focus of three events at cinemas in Rome on 24, 25 and 27 November. A play titled Mercoledì delle Ceneri is being staged at Teatro Tor Bella Monaca on 25-26 November, accompanied by two afternoons of free meetings open to the public. Sexual violence bill This week, Italy's lower house gave unanimous approval to a bill that introduces the concept of consent into the definition of sexual assault, defining sex without consent as rape. The bill, which must now be passed by the senate before becoming law, marks a shift from previous legislation that has focused on physical coercion or threats. In recent weeks Italy has been shocked by several high-profile femicides including two brutal murders in Milan: Luciana Ronchi (62) and Pamela Genini (29) were both stabbed to death by their former partners. Photo credit: Elena Lopriore - Shutterstock.com.

This weekend, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, the feminist movement will stage a rally in Rome. The demonstration on Saturday 22 November, to "sabotage wars and patriarchy", is scheduled to start in Piazza della Repubblica at 14.30 before making its way to Piazza di Porta di San Giovanni. Events in Rome Events and initiatives to raise awareness about the scourge of gender-based violence are already under way in the Italian capital. The campaign includes a week of events at the Mondadori Bookstore in Piazza Cola di Rienzo 81/83 and at the Galleria Alberto Sordi. The  hosting various initiatives against patriarchal violence, until 27 November. My Name is Nevenka by Icíar Bollaín, a film that tells the true story of the first Spanish woman to report a politician for sexual harassment at work, will be the focus of three on 24, 25 and 27 November. A play titled  is being staged at Teatro Tor Bella Monaca on 25-26 November, accompanied by two afternoons of free meetings open to the public. Sexual violence bill This week, Italy's lower house gave unanimous approval to a bill that introduces the concept of consent into the definition of sexual assault, defining . The bill, which must now be passed by the senate before becoming law, marks a shift from previous legislation that has focused on physical coercion or threats. In recent weeks Italy has been shocked by several high-profile femicides including two brutal murders in Milan:  (62) and  (29) were both stabbed to death by their former partners. Photo credit: Elena Lopriore - Shutterstock.com.