The Padua Charter 2026 is born: violence recognised as a public health issue

On 16 January 2026, at Palazzo del Bo, the Padua Charter 2026 was presented, the first Italian healthcare tool designed to recognise and address violence as a clinical and public health phenomenon. The document is the result of collaboration between the University of Padua and the Padua University Hospital and aims to transform the healthcare response to violence from occasional intervention to an integrated, scientific and structured approach, outlined in a comprehensive manner for the first time in Italy.

The Charter is based on a clear observation: many people who suffer violence arrive at healthcare services with symptoms that are not immediately recognised as such. Physical injuries, psychological disorders, vague or recurring symptoms can hide situations of mistreatment, abuse or neglect. For this reason, violence – in all its forms – is recognised as a public health issue, and not just a judicial or social problem.

The Padua Charter aims to provide medical, nursing and healthcare personnel with conceptual and operational tools to interpret signs of violence behind seemingly trivial clinical pictures, protecting the health, dignity and safety of those receiving care. As Gaya Spolverato, the Rector’s delegate for Equal Opportunities Policies, pointed out, this is a real change of perspective: not just treating visible wounds, but developing a multidisciplinary clinical understanding of invisible wounds, integrating healthcare, forensic medicine, social services, law enforcement and the judicial system.

This vision is in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation, which for years has recognised violence as one of the main global public health challenges. According to WHO data, approximately one in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner during her lifetime, with profound consequences for her physical and mental health. International guidelines recommend that healthcare systems implement dedicated protocols, specific training and multisectoral strategies for the prevention, identification and management of cases of violence.

One of the most critical issues concerns the recognition of violence in children, especially in younger children or those who are not yet able to describe what is happening to them. In paediatrics, violence can manifest itself through behavioural, psychological or somatic signs, such as developmental delays or recurring disorders with no apparent cause. Hence the urgent need for dedicated and ongoing training for healthcare personnel, so that they know how to observe, listen and correlate clinical signs with possible contexts of abuse.

The Padua Charter identifies violence as a complex clinical entity, characterised by subtle onset, often chronic progression, long-term biological and psychological impact and the need for comprehensive care involving the victim, family context and community. It is a phenomenon that still appears to lack reliable epidemiological data, reference centres, organisational models and dedicated health policies.

For this reason, the document is not limited to a declaration of intent, but makes specific requests: the inclusion of specific modules on violence in university and healthcare specialisation courses; the inclusion of the issue in National and Regional Health Plans; the establishment of dedicated observatories and services; the creation of multi-specialist teams; investment in research, training and awareness campaigns.

The Padua Charter 2026 is thus a call for collective action, addressed to the worlds of healthcare, training, research and public planning. Recognising violence as a health issue means providing a structured response to a reality that is still largely hidden, with the aim of preventing, treating and restoring dignity to individuals and the community.