Iveco sees red over violence against women

February 13, 2023

Iveco Bus has fired a salvo in the fight to stop violence against women.

Sadly, South Africa has notoriously high levels of violence against women. According to a government report, a woman is murdered every three hours in South Africa; many are assaulted and raped before their death.

While the situation in South Africa is extreme, it’s not unique. Violence against women happens all over the globe on a daily basis – and the team from Iveco Bus is taking a stand against this. From February 2 to 8, employees at the two Iveco Bus and Coach manufacturing sites in Annonay (France) and Vysoké Myto (Czech Republic), as well as the Heuliez Electromobility Centre of Excellence in Rorthais (France) painted benches red, a visual symbol chosen to represent the blood of female victims of violence and femicide. The red benches were installed by the entrance to each site to act as a daily reminder of the organisation’s support for female victims of violence and people in vulnerable situations.

Why a red bench?

This custom originates from a project by the Mexican artist Elina Chauvet. After her sister died from domestic violence, Elina created the “Red Shoes” art project as a call to action to stand up against gender-based violence. She placed hundreds of red shoes on the streets of Ciudad Juarez, each representing the blood of a femicide victim. The message quickly spread internationally, and the colour red became associated with installations – from benches to curtains – to highlight the need to eliminate violence against women.

Promoting inclusion and diversity, this initiative is fully aligned with the shared commitments of Iveco Group’s bus brands – Iveco Bus and Heuliez – to reduce inequality, support diversity, and protect people in vulnerable situations. As part of their shared values of “We do what is right”, each of the three sites is responsible for shining a light on this important cause and taking action that may have a positive impact.

All three factories decided to place their red benches in an area frequented by both employees and site visitors, where they are visible to everyone every day, as a symbolic and powerful reminder of their commitment to this fight. These red benches are part of a series, with more benches to be installed at all Iveco Group sites around the world in the coming weeks.

In addition to this initiative, associations were invited to the three European sites to discuss gender-based and domestic violence, including ways to recognise and combat it. FACE (Foundation to Act against Exclusion), which promotes the integration of people in difficult situations through education, learning, and professional integration, joined colleagues in Annonay, while the Rorthais site welcomed Intermède Nord 79 (an association created in 1996), which provides safe spaces to talk and supports domestic violence sufferers. Videos about the prevention of violence against women were broadcast, while information panels and flyers were made available to employees. Social workers and nurses from the sites were also in attendance.

We salute the Iveco team for this incredible initiative.