# Il diritto a una vita libera dalla violenza | Emanuele Corn | TEDxTreviso Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RC2TVOLRkI Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/5RC2TVOLRkI Generated: 2025-12-01T16:33:01.345+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Emanuele Corn uses personal stories, like that of poet Pablo Neruda, and legal precedents, such as the Istanbul Convention, to argue that naming and defining femicide is crucial for combating violence against women, asserting that the current legal and societal framework often fails to adequately address the severity of these crimes. **Key Points:** - Corn recounts the story of Pablo Neruda, who lived for 22 years in Isla Negra, Chile, and whose difficult youth experiences informed his later poetry. - He references the definition of 'femicide' coined by Diana Russell: "the killing of females by males because they are females," which underscores the gendered motive behind these murders. - Corn notes that the Istanbul Convention, ratified by many countries including Italy, recognizes the right of women to a life free from violence, yet this right is often not fully realized. - He contrasts the legal rights granted to women and men, pointing out that the law often fails to recognize the severity of femicide, treating it merely as a crime, not a systemic issue. - The speaker emphasizes that naming and defining femicide clearly allows society to move beyond treating victims as isolated cases and instead address the systemic nature of violence against women. - Corn highlights that the victims' experiences, like that of his friend Valeria, often result in suffering, shame, and a lack of legal recourse that is insufficient compared to the crimes committed. - The presentation urges the audience to recognize this reality and fight for structural change, rather than relying solely on existing, sometimes inadequate, legal frameworks. ![Screenshot at 09:36: The slide displays the title 'FEMMINICIDIO UNA PAROLA E LA SUA STORIA' \(Femicide: A Word and Its Story\) alongside a picture of Diana Russell, the scholar who coined the term 'femicide,' providing the essential context for the speech's focus on terminology.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/5RC2TVOLRkI/00-09-36.png) **Context:** The presentation is part of a TEDx Treviso event themed 'Prometeo: Oltre il fuoco della conoscenza' (Prometheus: Beyond the fire of knowledge). The speaker, Prof. Emanuele Corn, a lecturer and researcher, uses narrative and legal references to discuss the concept of femicide and the necessity of precise language and legal recognition to combat violence against women, drawing parallels between historical figures like Pablo Neruda and contemporary legal standards. ## Detailed Analysis Emanuele Corn opens his talk by sharing an anecdote about the poet Pablo Neruda, whose difficult youth experiences shaped his poetry, illustrating how personal history informs perspective. Corn then pivots to the core topic: the necessity of defining femicide precisely, citing Diana Russell's definition: 'the killing of females by males because they are females' (09:36). He argues that current legal structures, even those like the Istanbul Convention, often fail to adequately address the systemic nature of this violence, treating femicides as isolated crimes rather than gender-based atrocities (11:44, 12:22). Corn relates this to personal stories, such as that of his friend Valeria, who was killed, and points out that legal responses often fall short, leading to feelings of injustice and shame for the victims and their families (12:25, 12:28). He stresses that naming the problem correctly—using 'femicide' instead of generic terms—is vital for mobilizing the correct social and political energy (13:35, 13:47). Corn concludes by stating that the law, which he notes is sometimes inadequate, must evolve, and that recognizing the specific nature of these acts is the first step toward achieving a life free from violence for women and girls (15:07, 15:11). ### Introduction and Neruda Anecdote - Corn welcomes the audience and introduces the theme by referencing Pablo Neruda's formative but difficult youth in Chile (00:22-00:47) ### Defining Femicide - Corn presents Diana Russell's definition of 'femicide' as the killing of females by males because they are females, contrasting this specific motive with general homicide (09:36-09:52) ### Critique of Legal Frameworks - The speaker discusses how legal systems, like the one in the American continent, often fail to recognize the specific context of femicide, punishing it merely as a crime (11:37-12:18) ### The Importance of Naming - Corn argues that using precise language like 'femicide' is fundamental because it shifts the focus from individual acts to systemic violence, allowing for better social and political responses (13:33-14:04) ### Conclusion and Call to Action - The talk concludes by emphasizing that the victims' lives, like those of Russell and Lagarde, demand that society acknowledge the scope of the violence and work towards ensuring a life free from violence for all women (15:07-15:12) ![Screenshot at 00:07: Title slide for TEDx Treviso event featuring the theme 'Prometeo' and the date 12.10.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/5RC2TVOLRkI/00-00-07.png) ![Screenshot at 00:10: Introduction slide featuring speaker Prof. Emanuele Corn, Docente e Ricercatore \(Lecturer and Researcher\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/5RC2TVOLRkI/00-00-10.png) ![Screenshot at 00:25: First visual aid showing a ship in a bottle against a dark blue seascape, illustrating the story of a remote past event.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/5RC2TVOLRkI/00-00-25.png) ![Screenshot at 01:37: Visual aid showing two interior shots of a wooden cabin overlooking the ocean, likely the remote location mentioned in Neruda's story.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/5RC2TVOLRkI/00-01-37.png) ![Screenshot at 09:37: Slide dedicated to Diana Russell, featuring her photo and the definition of 'Femicide' that she coined.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/5RC2TVOLRkI/00-09-37.png)