Rispettarle

Rispettarle is a national Italian cultural and educational campaign and multimedia project focused on promoting respect for women and non-binary people in everyday life. The title, which translates to “respect them” in Italian, signals a commitment to consent, dignity, and equality across social interactions.

Origin and organization: The initiative emerged in 2019 from a coalition of educators, psychologists, and artists who formed a non-profit network to coordinate educational programs, public campaigns, and creative productions. It operates as a collaborative platform, working with schools, universities, cultural institutions, and local governments to develop resources and training.

Activities: Rispettarle develops classroom curricula and teacher training on consent, gender stereotypes, and respectful communication. It runs public-awareness campaigns with posters and short films, hosts interactive art installations, and releases documentary segments and educational guides. An online portal provides lesson plans, discussion prompts, and evaluation tools, with multilingual materials for broader reach.

Impact and reception: The project has been adopted by dozens of school districts and several municipalities, and has influenced related policy discussions about gender-based violence prevention and inclusive education. Supporters praise its practical resources and focus on everyday behavior; critics argue that it can be prescriptive or politicized. Evaluations show increased awareness among participants, though long-term attitude change remains variable.

Current status: As of the mid-2020s, Rispettarle continues to expand through partnerships and digital outreach, influencing similar initiatives in other European contexts and contributing to broader conversations about respectful conduct and consent.