APCOM

A giant poster of Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian politician, former senator and anti-corruption activist kidnapped in Columbia by the FARC on February 23 2002 while campaigning for the presidency, will accompany the celebrations in Milano for Women's day, which this year celebrates its centenary. Women's day is in fact commonly associated to the 1908 March through New York City of 15,000 women demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

Palazzo Marino's courtyard will then host actress Carla Chiarelli's readings from the book "Lettera dall'Inferno a mia madre e ai miei figli" by Ingrid Betancourt. In the evening at 9 p.m. the Orchestra Sinfonica Toscanini will perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the Teatro degli Arcimboldi. Here all authorities present, from the President of the Municipality Council Manfredi Palmeri, City Hall Culture Councillor Vittorio Sgarbi and Family, School and Social Policies Councillor Mariolina Moioli, will offer all women present a copy of Betancourt's book edited by Garzanti.

During day time a demonstration to defend the abortion bill will take place, leaving from Piazza Cairoli and ending in Piazza della Scala.