Edela Award spotlights children left behind by femicide

The fourth Edela Award in Rome focused on the children and families affected by femicide, while the nonprofit expanded its push for an international network and a first exploratory mission to the United States. The ceremony also recognized figures from justice, media, academia, culture and civil society for work tied to prevention, victim support and public awareness.

Why it matters: - The Edela Award puts the long-term impact of femicide in the spotlight, especially for children who lose their mothers and for the foster families who care for them. - The recognition also connects awareness, prevention and public responsibility to a broader effort against gender-based violence. - Edela is moving beyond Italy, with an international network in development and a first exploratory mission to the United States planned.

What happened: - The fourth edition of the Edela Award was held at Palazzo Wedekind in Rome. - Edela organized the event to highlight the orphans of femicide and the professional work of people helping build a culture of prevention and responsibility. - The association is building an international network in collaboration with Patrizia Marin. - The ceremony honored people from public institutions, the judiciary, academia, media, culture, civil society and social engagement.

The details: - Edela is a nonprofit association founded in 2018 by Roberta Beolchi. - The group works across Italy to support orphans of femicide and their foster families with direct help and prevention initiatives. - Edela's work has been presented to the Italian Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into Femicide. - The association said femicide has consequences that extend far beyond the victim's death and shape the lives of children and caregivers. - Lawyer and media-law lecturer Cataldo Calabretta hosted the ceremony and serves on Edela's Scientific Committee. - Awardees included Hon. Martina Semenzato, chair of the parliamentary committee on femicide and all forms of violence; Claudia Eccher, lawyer and member of the High Council of the Judiciary; magistrate Valerio de Gioia; criminologist Anna Maria Giannini; and criminal lawyer Laura Sgrò. - The award also went to young artist Summer Skye Bechini, 12, who was named Edela Ambassador for the new generations and created a canvas for auction to fund projects for orphans of femicide. - Sofia Donadio, 16, a survivor of the Crans-Montana tragedy, received recognition and dedicated it to victims who did not survive. - Other honorees included Barbara De Rossi, Ettore Bassi, Matteo Bassetti, Roberta Floris, Giada Fazzalari, Valeria Altobelli, Francesca Pascale, Nicola Graziano, Chantal Hamende, Caterina Belletti, Anna Silvia Angelini, Giacomo Coppola, Jessica Dalla Fontana, Luca Massaccesi, Annalisa Minetti, Alessia Pieretti and Javier Zanetti. - Actress Eva Lucchini read the award citations and has supported Edela through the musical Regina dei cuori, which helped fund a summer project for six children orphaned by femicide. - Artist Letizia Moroni created the awards, which use the dragonfly as a symbol of transformation and rebirth. - Valentina Belvisi, an orphan of femicide, attended the ceremony and described her commitment to standing with Edela and women facing violence. - Marco Sancandi, also an orphan of femicide, took part in the event and offered a personal example of life after violence.

Between the lines: - The award list shows Edela trying to widen its coalition, pulling in institutions, media figures, athletes, artists and child-rights advocates around one message. - The focus on children, foster care and prevention suggests the organization wants femicide treated as a family and social issue, not only a criminal one. - The dragonfly symbolism and the inclusion of young ambassadors point to a deliberate effort to frame recovery as possible, while keeping attention on loss.

What's next: - Edela's exploratory mission to the United States is the next step in its international outreach. - The association is likely to keep using the award and related cultural projects to raise funds and public awareness for children affected by femicide. - More information is available on the association's website: More information

The bottom line: - Edela is trying to turn grief into a wider support network, with the 2026 award framing femicide as a crime whose hardest consequences are often carried by the children left behind.