Two leading female politicians have warned of continuing discrimination against Italian women during a three-day event devoted to equal opportunities.
Speaking at the world's first international fair devoted to equal rights and opportunities, Equal Opportunities Minister Barbara Pollastrini and Piedmont Governor Mercedes Bresso said women still faced discrimination-related difficulties in modern Italy.
Pollastrini, who inaugurated the event on Monday, said Italy had a lot of catching up to do with other European countries.
"From the moment I started this job, I knew it was going to be a struggle, because Italy is a conservative country," she said.
"Conservative attitudes lurk everywhere, even in my own [centre-left Olive Tree] group, which I consider the most advanced in Italy in its approach towards women".
However, the minister defended the centre-left government against criticism over its legislative track record since coming to power.
"I am well aware of the government's limitations but on issues of equal opportunities and sexual orientation - be it the DICO bill [recognizing gay partnerships] or the bill designed to fight violence against women - the government is far ahead of parliament," she said.
Bresso, president of the Piedmont regional government, echoed the minister's comments, stressing that continued prejudice was the result of "determined opposition to policies set up to fight it".
"Discrimination continues to flourish in Italian society," she said.
She added that a large part of the problem was traditional attitudes within Italy.
"Every time a policy is successful in fighting a form of discrimination, Italian society frequently generates 'antibodies' that return the situation to the status quo", she explained.
Bresso identified two key areas crucial to fighting discrimination against women in Italy.
"I believe that the mother of all equal opportunities polices for women is work," she said. "A major step forward will only be taken once all women are placed in a position where they are able to work".
Italy has one of the lowest female employment levels in Europe. Only 45% of Italy's women have jobs, compared to 70% of men. This gender divide is the highest in Europe, where the average difference is around 15%.
Statistics also show that there are still far more men than women in the country's best paid jobs, with the result that average women's earnings are 23% lower than men's.
The second key issue, according to Bresso, is political representation.
"Italy is bottom of the list in Europe and in much of the world. This is a fundamental area given that politicians decide what action is taken in society," she said.
A recent report by the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union placed Italy 63rd in the world for female participation in politics, with women accounting for just 17% of its lawmakers.
In addition to discrimination against women, the three-day fair, Melting Pot, will spotlight problems facing gays, immigrants, minorities and people with disabilities.
Over 100 initiatives have been organized, and key international political figures are also slated to attend, including European Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha Rose Migiro.
While the event has been warmly welcomed by Italian anti-discrimination groups, it has come under fire from regional centre-right opposition politicians, who have criticized the cost.
Piedmont MP Marco Zacchera, a member of the rightist National Alliance party, on Friday attacked Bresso's regional government for "wasting 850,000 euros to organize a conference on equal opportunities".
But Regional Equal Opportunities Councillor Giuliana Manica defended the majority decision, explaining that the 850,000 sum was the amount earmarked for an array of regional equal opportunities policies throughout the year, only part of which was destined for the fair.
