25-11-2025 | di COOPI

From Mali to Italy to Mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

On 24 November, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November, COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale took part in the opening of the photography exhibitions “Nyama, accanto all’anima” and “DaméLéKé”, held at the Casa Internazionale delle Donne in Rome. The exhibition showcases the stories of women and communities affected by the humanitarian crisis in Mali. The works, created by photographer Michele Cattani together with six young visual arts students from Bamako and the staff of COOPI and WeWorld, were developed within a project supported by the Italian Cooperation through AICS Dakar, with the contribution of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The exhibitions will be open to the public from 25 to 27 November, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with free admission, at the Casa Internazionale delle Donne in Via della Lungara 19 in Rome.

COOPI is committed to combating gender-based violence worldwide, as community development requires the participation of both women and men and the overcoming of inequalities. It adopts an approach that promotes protection from various forms of violence and ensures women’s access to essential services, education, economic resources, and decision-making processes. COOPI strengthens individual and institutional capacities, enhancing the role of women in food security, disaster resilience, and socioeconomic pathways, with particular attention to the most vulnerable groups. Its operational approach integrates prevention, the promotion of rights, service delivery, and active participation, working with communities, authorities, and local organizations to build lasting cultural change.

In Mali, COOPI has been working since 2013 across multiple sectors to support the civilian population and has carried out nearly 60 projects, reaching more than 6 million people. Among its interventions, COOPI implemented in the regions of Bankass and Koro the project “Response to the Immediate Health, Nutrition and Protection Needs of the Most Vulnerable Populations”, financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), which concluded in June. In these areas affected by insecurity, poverty, and marginalization, COOPI provided integrated support in the fields of health and protection, specifically targeting women who have experienced gender-based violence.

A crucial component of the intervention focused on mental health and psychosocial support: many people have faced trauma related to violence, forced displacement, and the loss of family members. The project made culturally adapted individual and family psychosocial support sessions accessible to beneficiaries, primarily women.