Desire for peace: volunteers in over 60 Italian cities demonstrate to reiterate the repudiation of war enshrined in Article 11 of the Constitution

ROMA – Italy repudiates the war. The campaign strongly reiterates this “R1PUD1A” di EMERGENCY which kicked off last weekend on the occasion of the National Unity and Armed Forces Day: the association’s volunteers gathered in over 60 Italian cities to reaffirm the importance of and adherence toarticle 11 of the Italian Constitution: “Italy repudiates war as an instrument of attack on the freedom of other peoples and as a means of resolving international disputes”.

Mobilizations across the country. From Milan to Catania, from Reggio Emilia to Sassari, volunteers met throughout Italy in symbolic places, squares and streets to remember that this “NO to war” is written in the Constitution. They did it this morning in Rome, unfurling the banner with the writing R1PUD1A at the Colosseum, while yesterday the writing was unfurled in Venice at the Rialto Bridge, in Milan in Piazza del Duomo, in Turin under the Mole Antonelliana.

The banner in St. Peter’s Square. The banner with the writing R1PUD1A yesterday it was also unrolled in Rome, in St. Peter’s Square, during the Pope’s Angelus who greeted the volunteers of the Roman group of EMERGENCYjoining the message with these words: “May this principle be implemented throughout the world. War should be banned and issues should be addressed with law and negotiations, weapons should be silenced and space should be given to dialogue”.

From the Pantheon in Rome to the Molo Audace in Trieste. There were also many flashmobs by EMERGENCY volunteers who involved people at the Pantheon in Rome, under the Tower of Pisa, in Trieste at the Molo Audace, in Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia and Piazza della Borsa and in Ferrara in Piazza Trento and Trieste, up to Volterra under the monument to the fallen of all wars. And again from Genoa to Messina, passing through Pistoia and Lucca Comics and in many other cities there were numerous silent parades with participants who composed, with t-shirts and signs, the slogan of the campaign.

The 56 open conflicts in the world. At a time when war seems inevitable and there are 56 open conflicts in the world, the appeal of EMERGENCY spreads the message of our Constitution. “In Italy there is a beautiful law: the Constitution. Which in article 11 says something beautiful: Italy no longer wants to go to war. He repudiates her. Yet we are no longer witnessing significant peace actions. The language of war spreads as if it were an incontrovertible truth. In Italy and Europe, governments are rearming and saying that peace is a luxury. But the war industry itself wallows in luxury.

The orgy of military spending. Second Milesl’Observatory on military spending in Italyin 2025 alone our country has already planned to allocate 32 billion euros to military spending, a historical record with an increase of 12.4% compared to 2024 and 60% over the decade. Of these 32 billion it will reserve 13 for new armaments, with a jump of 77% in the last five years.”

What is EMERGENCY. Born to offer free high quality medical surgical care to the victims of war and to promote a culture of peace, solidarity and respect for human rights, since its foundation, through the will and commitment of Gino Strada and his wife Teresa Sarti, it has intervened in 21 countries treating, in all its facilities, over 13 million patients worldwide. Today the organization is present in 8 countries, three of which have an ongoing conflict: Sudan, Ukraine and the Gaza Strip in Palestine. Precisely thanks to its experience in the field EMERGENCY states, once again, that 90% of the dead and injured are civilians and that the expense of an F-35 is worth as much as 3,244 intensive care beds.

How to join the “R1PUD1A” Campaign. Individual citizens, schools, theatres, municipalities, public and local bodies can join the campaign. On the website of EMERGENCY the tools to act are available. The invitation is to spread them and follow the initiatives of this campaign. Because all of Italy, if you ask them, repudiates. ­­­­­­­­­­­