25 November: together to eliminate violence against women, including economic violence

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Published on 25/11/2025

Together against any violations of women's rights. On 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women returns, marking the start of a 16-day campaign - UNiTE - which will run until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

The 25 November Day and the UNiTE Campaign

The United Nations promotes the 25 November observance and the UNiTE campaign to eradicate all forms of abuse suffered by women worldwide: from harassment in its many forms to pay and opportunity gaps.

Everyone is called to act against violence: governments and institutions, professional associations, civil society, businesses.

This year's theme is digital violence: acts such as online bullying, sexual harassment and stalking, sharing intimate photos without consent, and spreading explicit AI-generated images. Violence that often spills over into real life, sometimes to the extreme of femicide.

Digital violence is just one of the many forms of violence against women. UN Women, the UN organisation that defends women's rights, lists them on its website. One of these forms rarely makes the headlines, yet it is no less devastating for its victims: economic violence.

An Invisible Abuse: Economic Violence

Economic violence is a form of domestic abuse. It occurs when a partner or family member denies a woman financial independence to exert power, control her, and make her dependent. The victim is not free to use money or even earn it.

A woman suffers economic violence when a partner or family member, for example:

• demands an account of every expense she makes;
• prevents her from keeping money for herself;
• denies her access to funds, such as withdrawing from a bank account;
• forbids her to work or train for employment;
• forces her into debt or makes her act as guarantor;
• withholds financial information, such as income or assets;
• makes major financial decisions without consulting her;
• refuses to pay alimony after separation.

This form of violence persists partly because of stereotypes: that a woman's role in the family is to care for the home and children, while a man's role is to earn money; or that women are less capable than men when it comes to managing money. Neither is true.

Knowledge is Power - and Freedom

Managing money well is something you can learn. 'Managing well' means making informed decisions. This does not require a natural talent, but rather acquiring basic knowledge and seeking the information needed for rational choices. For example, before applying for a loan, you need to understand the different types and compare offers on the market.

Where can you find reliable information on managing money? Banca d'Italia provides it free of charge through this website and other financial education initiatives, including training programmes. One of these, 'Women Count', is designed specifically for women. Its aim is to explain, in simple terms, topics such as financial planning, electronic payments, current accounts, loans and investments.