The Municipality of Matera has officially joined READY, the Italian network of public administrations committed to protecting the human rights of LGBT+ people and promoting a culture based on respect and appreciation of differences.
The Municipality’s entry into the network was formalized with a Council resolution accompanied by the signing of the Charter of Intent by Mayor Antonio Nicoletti. The municipal administration’s representative will be Stefania Draicchio, Councilor for Equal Opportunities and Gender Policies.
The READY Network (National Network of Public Administrations Against Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) was founded in Turin on June 15, 2006, on the initiative of the City of Turin, in collaboration with the Municipality of Rome. The aim is to connect local and regional authorities throughout Italy by sharing a Charter of Intent that defines its objectives, commitments, and coordination methods.
By signing the Charter, the Municipality undertakes to respect the objectives set out therein, including the development of positive actions in the territories and the sharing of good practices to prevent and combat all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
“The fight against intolerance and discrimination towards LGBT+ people must be a priority for any administration that wants to guarantee equal dignity and rights to all citizens,” says Mayor Nicoletti, expressing satisfaction with joining the READY Network and the opportunity to collaborate with numerous institutional partners on a national scale.
“Homophobic, lesbophobic, and transphobic discrimination,” adds Councilor Draicchio, “is a serious form of violence, not only psychological, but often verbal and physical, with destabilizing effects on its victims. A fundamental objective will be to promote social innovation initiatives aimed at young people and, more generally, LGBT+ people, to prevent distress and combat the risk of social exclusion. Among the priority actions,“ continues the councilor, ”is the establishment of local help desks for listening, assistance, and guidance, which are easily accessible and equipped with psychological support, including through collaborations with private social entities.”