25 November 2025
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, established by the United Nations General Assembly and observed every year on November 25, the Politecnico di Milano is organizing and promoting initiatives for education and awareness.
The University is also joining the campaign “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls” promoted by UN Women, with the aim of addressing one of the fastest-growing forms of gender-based violence: digital violence.
Focusing on this issue, the Department of Design, as part of the Communication Design degree program and the project "WeSayStop", in collaboration with Campus Life, has developed a campaign on the phenomenon of Deepnude: sexually explicit multimedia content, often non-consensual, in which the image of a person is digitally and realistically replaced with that of another.
Below are all the initiatives scheduled throughout November:
Online training for Technical-Administrative Staff and Faculty
- November 12 | 12.30 - 13:30
Explicit and Implicit Verbal Sexism: Why It’s Important to Recognize It
With Vera Gheno, Sociolinguist and Writer
- November 18 | 12.30 - 13:30
Conscious Words and Images: Toward Gender-Sensitive Visual Language
With Valeria Bucchetti and Francesca Casnati, Professors, Department of Design
The event will be held in italian.
Leonardo Campus Tunnel
An exhibition of posters on the theme “Deepnude.” The campaign, created by students of the Communication Design degree program as part of the WeSayStop project, invites the Politecnico community to reflect on the ethical and social implications of the technologies we design and use. A shared moment of awareness to counter violence against women in all its forms and manifestations.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Large Infrastructures Laboratory
Building B23, Bovisa La Masa Campus
Launch event of the project promoted by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and developed by CulturaMeccanica®, in collaboration with the Museum and Florentine Institute of Prehistory. An invitation to reflect on the symbolic meanings and transformations of the female figure over time.
The event will be held in italian.
Awareness activities will take place throughout the day in classrooms across the Politecnico di Milano. To further explore the topic of gender-based violence—its causes, manifestations, and prevention tools—you can access the MOOC “Gender-Based Violence: How to Become an Active Bystander”, available to the entire Politecnico community and the public on Polimi Open Knowledge (POK) (Course: Gender-based violence: how to become an active bystander | POK) , and now also in a more concise version (Sprint MOOC) for the Politecnico community via online training services.
Aula Bucci – Building B1, Bovisa Durando Campus
A roundtable discussion with experts exploring gender-based digital violence: Deepfake and Deepnude.
The event will be held in italian.
Protection bodies
- The Single Guarantee Committee acts as a tool for preventing and combating discrimination based on gender, age, disability, ethnic origin, language, social status, political orientation, sexual and emotional orientation
- The Listening and Work-related Distress Counselling Desk: this is a counselling service on relational and organisational issues for teaching, technical and administrative staff who are suffering work-related stress, and is aimed at identifying hypotheses and strategies for improving and resolving the problem. Dr Alice Fattori is available by appointment at: sportellodiascolto@polimi.it
- The Confidential Counsellor provides advice and help to whistleblowers of events of discrimination and bullying, or sexual, moral and psychological harassment. Appointments can be made with the Counsellor, Illaria Li Vigni, at: consiglieradifiducia@polimi.it
- Student Ombuds: ensures the correct application of legislation concerning the rights and duties of students and student representatives at the university. Anyone who wishes to make a complaint about behaviour that fails to comply with the university regulations and the Charter of Students' Rights and Duties can contact the Ombudsman, Prof. Maria Vittoria Diamanti: difensoredeglistudenti@polimi.it
- Stalking Help Desk: undergraduates and PhD students can access the stalking victims' help desk at stalkingsos@polimi.it. The service offers:
- a meeting with and the support of a psychologist or psychotherapist to analyse what is happening and to agree on methods of coping with it, including psychologically
- a coordination with other university and local authorities (university disciplinary commissions, police, social and health services...) for appropriate intervention
- If you are experiencing stalking, verbal or psychological violence, you can call 1522 for assistance or even just to seek advice (the number is free, from mobile phones roo). You can also reach out to one of the many anti-violence centers across the national territory, where you can find listening ears, practical advice, and a concrete network of support. You can find the list of centers affiliated with the D.i.Re network at this link.
Education
- Gender-based violence: how to become an active bystander
In this online course (MOOC), you will learn about Gender-Based Violence (GBV): its roots, causes, and manifestations. You will understand that GBV is a global phenomenon that can only be eradicated through collective action. Finally, you will learn how to become an active bystander and play a meaningful role in addressing this issue. - Respect: information and awareness event organised for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2020, with the participation of experts in the field
Parterships
- Since 2022, the Politecnico di Milano has been part of the UN.I.RE - Università in rete contro la violenza di genere (Universities networking against gender-based violence)
- Casa di Accoglienza delle Donne Maltrattate (battered women’s shelter)
Useful documents
- Politecnico di Milano Code of Ethics
- Code of Ethics
- Code for the Safeguarding of Personal Dignity
- School Gender Glossary - Department for Equal Opportunities Presidency of the Council of Ministers
- The Istanbul Convention
Giornata internazionale per l'eliminazione della violenza contro le donne
Year 2024:
- 25/11 - Gender-based violence: how to become an active bystander
- 26/11 - Leadership al femminile: riflessioni sui legami con la violenza di genere
Year 2023:
Year 2022:
Contacts
- Equal Opportunities Service - equalopportunities@polimi.it
- Guarantee Committee - cug@polimi.it
- Student Ombuds - difensoredeglistudenti@polimi.it
- Confidential Counsellor - consiglieradifiducia@polimi.it
- Listening and Work-related Distress Counselling Desk -sportellodiascolto@polimi.it
- Stalking Help Desk - stalkingsos@polimi.it
- 24-hour public anti-violence hotline: 1522