Marisa Leo: A Beacon of Hope Against Gender-Based Violence

Chi era Angelo Reina

In October, Mazara del Vallo was set to host the event "Women of Wine," an initiative envisioned by Marisa Leo, with proceeds aimed at combating gender-based violence. Unfortunately, Marisa did not live to see her project come to fruition.

Marisa Leo was a radiant, affable, and generous woman. She was a caring mother, an excellent professional in the wine industry, and a staunch advocate for women's rights. Friends and colleagues remember her as "a light that illuminated everything she did."

As the marketing manager at the renowned social winery "Colomba Bianca" in Sicily, Marisa was a prominent figure in her field. She dedicated herself to her work, viewing wines not only as a passion but as a true mission. She deeply loved her three-year-old daughter, whom she had with her former partner, Angelo Reina—the man who later took her life.

In 2020, she reported Reina for stalking and violating family support obligations, displaying tremendous courage. Marisa actively engaged in defending women's rights, believing that change was possible. On International Women's Day three years ago, she wrote a Facebook post denouncing gender disparities but expressed hope that things would change. "A cultural revolution is underway," she wrote.

During those days, she was planning a wine-related event scheduled for October in Mazara del Vallo with the association "Women of Wine." The proceeds were intended for an organization actively fighting gender-based violence.

"We can all do something: help, raise awareness, spread the word, so that not one more woman suffers violence," reads the caption of a video featuring Marisa Leo. These words resonate even more powerfully today, as it's impossible not to come across the latest news about the abuses against the young girls in Monreale and yet another femicide.

Recent cases like those in Palermo, Caivano, Monreale, and now Marsala, must fuel a constructive debate and make it clear that violence against women is a cultural issue related to oppression and requires broad-ranging educational measures.