Quito – Italian Ambassador to Ecuador Giovanni Davoli participated in Quito at the closing event of the program “Women and Public Force: Promoting Synergy,” organized by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law of Sanremo with funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The program’s goal is to promote measures for the prevention of gender-based violence and the protection of women victims of violence by strengthening their ability to identify risks and participate in decision-making processes regarding their security. It also promotes training activities for security personnel to ensure they operate according to standards that provide timely and adequate care for women in vulnerable situations. The ambassador presented participation certificates to attendees, including women in vulnerable situations and police personnel. In his speech, Davoli noted that “a cultural shift and innovative approach are necessary, which this program seeks to foster. A cultural change that criminal forces trying to plunge Ecuador into a spiral of violence certainly do not want. A cultural shift that can become part of a broader transformation, generating the necessary public rejection of a culture of illegality and abuse.” (9colonne)