Italy's health minister said on
Thursday that two promotional images for a campaign to raise
awareness around fertility would be revised after they sparked a
social media backlash from critics who branded them insulting
and sexist.
Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin told ANSA the images that
would be changed included one showing a young woman holding an
hourglass next to the words "Beauty has no age. Fertility
does.", and another that reads "Get a move on! Do not wait for
the stork".
Critics from across the political spectrum have slammed the
campaign as insensitive to the high unemployment and poverty
levels many people in Italy are struggling with. Author Roberto
Saviano criticised the campaign for failing to highlight those
economic problems and the importance of finding the right
partner to start a family with.
Lorenzin said explanations for the images had not been
added to the website publicising the "Fertility Day" initiative
due on September 22.
"We have 22 days to improve the quality of the campaign,"
she said.
She has described the day as a chance to discuss issues
such as safe sex and fertility treatment in Italy, which has one
of the lowest birth rates in Europe.
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