Child abuse is a grim reality affecting societies worldwide. A sobering WHO report reveals that half of all children globally experience physical or psychological violence, with consequences often lasting well beyond childhood.
To tackle this problem, Menarini has been supporting for nine years a unique project to raise awareness and train medical professionals, especially pediatricians, in the early detection and management of child and teen abuse. Launched in 2016, “Facing Abuse” offers nationwide training courses endorsed by the Italian Society of Pediatrics (SIP).

This groundbreaking project has established the world’s first safeguarding network of pediatricians, training thousands of healthcare professionals to serve as an early warning system for child abuse.

“We’ve built a comprehensive training network reaching 41 Italian cities, delivering 75 specialized courses and 600 hours of educational training”, explained Lucia and Alberto Giovanni Aleotti, shareholders and Board members of Menarini. “Thanks to this initiative, thousands of ‘watchdog’ pediatricians can now recognize early signs of abuse in their patients. We’re proud to champion this cause and aim to extend this vital training to 15,000 medical professionals, including doctors, pediatricians, and residents”.

This year, the “Facing Abuse 3.0” program completed its 2024 nationwide rollout across 11 Italian cities. The program launched in Bologna on May 31st and traveled through Rome, Udine, Perugia, Como, Palermo, Turin, Potenza, Olbia, and Savona, concluding its final training session in Florence.

The courses combine lectures, video simulations, and hands-on training, providing participants practical tools to identify signs of distress and respond promptly. “This project has transformed emergency care protocols for abuse cases”, explains Pietro Ferrara, national program coordinator, SIP’s expert on abuse and maltreatment, and Full Professor of Pediatrics at Rome’s Campus Bio-Medico University. “A recent survey of 148 hospitals across 29 countries, including Italy, revealed that half lack proper resources to identify child abuse victims. Our program is bridging this gap, with specialized protocols now implemented at Rome’s Sant’Eugenio Hospital and other facilities across Rome, Naples, Palermo, Pisa, and Perugia. We’re also shaping future medical professionals by incorporating abuse detection training into medical school curricula and pediatric residency programs in these cities”.

A significant breakthrough has been dismantling the taboo surrounding abuse reporting. Where doctors once hesitated due to legal concerns or personal connections, the training has instilled confidence in identifying and managing abuse cases, both medically and legally.

Through this comprehensive initiative, Menarini has built an expanding safeguarding network of pediatricians skilled in detecting subtle signs of distress and taking decisive action when abuse is suspected. This growing network offers increasing protection for vulnerable children and adolescents across Italy.