Initiative provides a safe space for Italian women facing violence, complementing existing access to psychological and legal support.
The Consulate General of Italy in Casablanca, in collaboration with VFS Global, has supported the establishment of an Emergency Shelter aimed at providing Italian women victims of violence and their children with a safe and secure space. The Emergency Shelter was inaugurated at the Consulate General of Italy in Casablanca in the presence of Mr. Francesco Capecchi, Consul General of Italy in Casablanca, and Mr. Zubin Karkaria, Founder & CEO, VFS Global Group.
The shelter is designed to offer Italian women in difficulty and their children a safe place to stay, representing an important first step towards safety, dignity, and rebuilding their lives. The initiative builds on support already provided through the anti-violence centre, including access to psychological and legal assistance.
Mr. Francesco Capecchi, Consul General of Italy in Casablanca said, “Ensuring that women facing difficult circumstances have access to timely, safe and appropriate support is of paramount importance. This Emergency Shelter represents an important step in strengthening the assistance available and ensuring that support is accessible when it is needed most. Initiatives such as this are made stronger through the commitment of trusted partners like VFS Global, whose support helps us translate our shared commitment into meaningful action for the community. We deeply value this collaboration and the positive difference it can make in the lives of Italian women and their children who need our support.”
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, said, “At VFS Global, our purpose extends beyond our business to creating meaningful and lasting impact in the communities around us. We are honoured to join hands with our long-standing partners, the Consulate General of Italy in Casablanca, in supporting an initiative that will provide safety and hope to women at a time when they need it most.”
The initiative forms part of VFS Global’s Sustainability Plan. One of the plan’s aims is to create positive impact in the communities VFS Global serves by supporting programmes that promote inclusion, wellbeing and resilience. Through the Emergency Shelter, VFS Global and the Consulate General of Italy in Casablanca aim to help ensure that women in need have access to immediate protection and support at a particularly vulnerable time.
About VFS Global
As the global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure mobility for governments and citizens, VFS Global embraces technological innovation, including Generative AI, to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.
With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritises ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 71 client governments. Operating over 4,300 Application Centres in 170 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 567 million transactions* since 2001.
Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai, VFS Global is majority owned by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, along with minority shareholders including Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation, Singapore based Temasek and UAE based Dubai Holdings.
* Comprising 349.06 million transactions by VFS Global and 218.52 million transactions by CiX Citizen Experience