The CDP Group Women's Association, in collaboration with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, is promoting a discussion on female perspectives and challenges in the Public Administration.
What is the value that women produce and bring to the Public Administration? And what is still missing to enable them to fully realise their potential? These are the themes of the event “The value of women in the Public Administration”, promoted by the CDP Group Women's Association in collaboration with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. The event took place on Wednesday, 14 May at the Horti Sallustiani in Rome and aimed to examine the presence of women in the Public Administration through data, reflections and first-hand accounts.
Moderated by journalist Valeria Santoro, the discussion opened with a few statistics: according to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index, Italy currently ranks 87th globally in terms of gender equality. According to the 2024 Gender Report published by INPS, the female employment rate in Italy is 52.5%, approximately 18 percentage points lower than the male employment rate (70.4%). Moreover, while women make up the majority of the Public Administration workforce, fewer than 20% hold management positions.
The Chairman’s remarks were followed by an interview with Valeria Vittimberga, General Director of INPS, conducted by Leonilde Vitolo, President of the CDP Group’s Women’s Association. At the heart of the discussion was the “2024 Gender Report”, produced by the Steering and Oversight Board of INPS, which each year provides an updated analysis of various aspects of the status of women in Italy.
The panel “Voices from the field: stories of women making a difference” featured experiences from various areas of the public administration. Speakers included Maria Carmela Lanzetta, former Minister for Regional Affairs and former Mayor of Monasterace (RC); Giulia Russo, Director of the Pasquale Mandato Penitentiary Centre in Secondigliano (NA); Valeria Sentili, School Director of the Francesca Morvillo Comprehensive Institute in Rome; and Antonietta Malatesta, from CDP’s Public Administration Business Relations Area. Their contributions highlighted the impact of public action in local communities, particularly in the fields of education, the rule of law and inclusion.
The panel also shared data on the growing presence of women in decision-making roles: according to ANCI, the number of female mayors in Italy increased from 145 in 1986 to 1,189 in 2023, although with some regional disparities. This data point underscores the positive effects and added value that women bring to local governance: in fact, several studies suggest a correlation between a higher presence of women in decision-making roles and a lower perception or incidence of corruption. But the value created by women is not limited to this sphere: female leadership also contributes positively to the outcomes of education policies and post-incarceration reintegration initiatives designed and implemented by women.
The discussion then focused on the challenges associated with accessing and remaining in leadership positions. The second panel, entitled “Women in the Public Administration: valuable experiences and everyday challenges”, featured contributions from Rita Romitelli, Executive at the General Directorate for Health Planning at the Ministry of Health; Antonietta Mastrocola, Director of Financial Resources of the Campania Region; and Riccardo Masetti, Founder of Komen Italia and former Director of the Breast Surgery Unit at the Gemelli University Hospital Foundation.