Serie A stars to paint faces in campaign against violence against women

Serie A footballers will wear a mark of red face paint during this weekend’s games as part of a United Nations campaign against violence against women.

Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, and match officials will wear the face paint as part of the campaign. It marks the second time Serie A has taken part, with a similar action carried out in April 2018.

It has been started with WeWorld Onlus, which has fought for women’s rights over the past two decades.

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When the teams walk out to the match, they will be joined by women in the campaign shirt on a day that the UN describes as the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.’

WeWorld Onlus president Marco Chiesara said: “This campaign along with Serie A helps us to make our voice stronger in opposition to violence against women, because awareness and prevention are the main tools we have to fight against this phenomenon.”

Serie A released a statement over the campaign, saying: “we must expel the fear with which the victims live every day.”

Francesco Toldo, a former Italian international expressed his support: “Violence is a cultural problem. In order to solve this problem, our sons need to be taught the right values and that they need to show respect.

“Youth academies can contribute to shaping athletes and men, but what they learn from their families should underpin everything.”