Donatella Linguiti

Born in Naples, on 30 November 1953, Donatella Linguiti graduated in Sociology in June 1976 from Urbino University, having written her thesis “The Economical System in the Marche Region” on political economy.

In October 1976, she began her career as a teacher of corporate affairs, together with an activity as a trade unionist. During these years, she was very active in schools’ elective bodies and in activities of planning and experimentation of educational and disciplinary innovations. At the same time, she co-operated with IRSAE-MARCHE with the aim of training teachers and, in particular, updating methodologies and techniques.

She also collaborated with TAMAT, a centre for studies and research in promoting international co-operation. Since her youth she has been politically active in the new Left and in the feminist movement. In 1991 she was a member of the Communist Refounding Party, in charge of managing responsibilities at provincial, regional and national level.

In 1999, she was appointed councillor responsible for the Province of Ancona and acted as proxy for social politics, state education, decentralised co-operation and peace. Among her several activities as councillor, she organised two national conferences about Kurdish matters, inside the United Nations’ Assembly.

Donatella Linguiti created the Italian Coordination for Development and Cooperation in the East of Anatolia (CISCASE), at national level, that led to the first project of decentralised international co-operation in Kurdistan Turkish area: a shelter for widows and orphan women, victims of war.

After having been appointed for a second time as councillor for the Province, at the administrative elections in 2002, she was delegated to represent public transports, school building, and equal opportunities. In the past years she has promoted the use of direct participation to create planning instruments concerning public works. In terms of equal opportunities, the building up of a network of associations and local authorities in favour of the protection and prevention of violence and crimes against women, as well as the creation of a provincial gender budget, are considered very important.