ANTI-STALKING OFFICE OPENS IN ROME

ANTI-STALKING OFFICE OPENS IN ROME

(ANSA) - Rome, October 30 - An Italian organization created to offer assistance to victims of stalking has opened an office in Rome after successfully operating one in Milan.

The new Codici office staff will include two lawyers and an expert in psychology, Codici National Secretary Ivano Giacomelli said at the presentation of the new Rome branch on Friday.

According to recent studies, one out of five Italians have been the target of stalking at some time in their lives and of these 75% are women and in 80% of the cases the victim knows the molester.

''The consequences of this form of aggression are very serious and in 70% of cases can result in psychological disturbances including anxiety and loss of sleep, while in extreme cases some victims attempt suicide,'' Giacomelli said.

One of the problems in combatting this phenomenon, the Codici chief observed, was that until recently only 17% of stalking victims reported it to authorities.

However, he added, this percentage has been rising since last February when stalking was upgraded from a misdemeanor to a crime.

''Until only recently law enforcement underestimated this phenomenon. Now intervention has been made easier thanks to stalking being considered a crime and we can work more effectively,'' Giacomelli said.

In its first five months operating in Milan, the Codici office received over 120 requests for help of which 72% were from women and 28% men.

In 50% of the cases where a woman is a victim the stalker was a rejected suitor, former spouse or ex-boyfriend, while others included neighbors, co-workers and even family members.

According to one of the lawyers at the new Rome office, Carmine Laurenzano, ''a stalker gets excited in hunting down their prey, planning each move to get close to them. The person is usually a loner and in many cases is someone who has had problems in the past''.

''My advice to the victims, who are usually between 18 and 24 years of age, is to report the molestation to the proper authorities and agencies, like Codici, which can help. They should also try not to act in a routine way and avoid being alone,'' the lawyer added.