International Women’s House in Rome

The International Women’s House in Rome (Casa Internazionale delle Donne) is a landmark feminist institution occupying part of the monumental former Buon Pastore complex on Via della Lungara in Rome. Since the 1970s it has served as a hub for women’s associations, cultural production, political debate and mutual support. The organisation describes itself as a unique place to know, discover and live, and its website functions as the online space for news, events and activities. In 2026 the Casa celebrates 50 years (1976–2026) of continuous activity, marking half a century of feminist presence in the city. The Casa’s roots lie in the Roman feminist and lesbian movement. After the eviction from the Casa della Donna in Via del Governo Vecchio (Palazzo Nardini), the separatist feminist centre negotiated with the city authorities for a new home. In 1983 the Buon Pastore complex — a 17th-century former women’s reformatory — was designated for social purposes with particular attention to women. In 1987 the Roman Feminist Movement occupied the 17th-century wing at Via della Lungara 19, claiming the intended destination and beginning lengthy negotiations with the municipality for restoration and handover to women’s associations. In 1992, with the support of the Commission of Elected Women of the Rome City Council, the Casa Internazionale delle Donne project was listed among the works of Roma Capitale and approved, leading to the creation of an autonomous body dedicated to valuing women’s politics and offering services and counselling. Today the Casa operates as a consortium (Consorzio Casa Internazionale delle Donne, statute dated September 2010) and hosts a wide range of activities: permanent free workshops, courses, social services, exhibitions, film screenings, book presentations and public assemblies. Its political and cultural project is explicitly feminist and lesbian, referencing the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action and aiming to develop women’s capacities and resources locally, nationally and internationally. The organisation also functions as an archive and memory of past struggles and as a laboratory for women’s future protagonism. Governance is provided by a president and a direttivo (board). As of 2026 the president is Barbara Leda Kenny, with a board including Angela Ammirati, Francesca Casafina, Anna Caputo, Noemi Caputo, Sabrina Frasca and Elisabetta Canitano, and treasurer Roberta Marverti. The Casa relies on membership fees, support cards, conventions and contributions from associations and guests. Its programme includes recurring observances such as 25 April (women’s resistance), 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), and campaigns such as “Women with Gaza”. In 2026 it is organising a public assembly for its 50th anniversary and a Dyke March presentation, among many other events.

The International Women’s House in Rome (Casa Internazionale delle Donne) traces its origins to the Roman feminist and lesbian movement of the 1970s. The organisation’s own timeline, as presented on its website, begins with the year 1976, and in 2026 it celebrates 50 years of activity. The Casa defines itself as a unique place, born from the political and cultural project of the Roman feminist and lesbian movement to create in Rome a space for aggregation and elaboration of women’s initiatives in cultural, artistic, social, economic and political fields. The physical home of the Casa is the monumental complex formerly known as “Buon Pastore” on Via della Lungara in Rome. Since the 17th century this complex had been used as a women’s reformatory or reclusorio femminile. In 1983 the complex was designated for social purposes, with particular regard to women citizens. This designation was obtained by the separatist feminist centre through negotiation following the eviction from the Casa della Donna in Via del Governo Vecchio – Palazzo Nardini. In 1987 the Roman Feminist Movement contested the decision to assign part of the complex to the Ente Santa Croce alla Lungara and occupied the 17th-century wing at Via della Lungara 19, claiming the intended destination and initiating a long negotiation with the municipality for the restoration and delivery of the building to women’s associations. In 1992, thanks to the support of the Commission of Elected Women of the Rome City Council, the Casa Internazionale delle Donne project was listed among the works of Roma Capitale and approved by the municipality. This led to the creation of an autonomous body dedicated to valuing women’s politics and offering services and counselling. The Casa operates as a consortium, with a statute dated September 2010 for the “Consorzio Casa Internazionale delle Donne”. The statute’s preamble states that the political and cultural project of the Casa is the result of the initiative and will of the Roman feminist and lesbian movement to create a place of aggregation and elaboration of women’s initiatives. It also positions the Casa as both an archive and memory of past struggles and as a source of thought and design for women’s future protagonism. The organisation explicitly references the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action as a guiding framework for promoting actions that develop women’s capacities and resources and resolve situations of oppression, harassment and violence. Over the decades the Casa has hosted a wide range of activities: cultural events, exhibitions, film screenings, book presentations, public assemblies, courses and permanent free workshops. It also provides social services and counselling. The Casa relies on the strength and constancy of the associations and women who inhabit it, and to manage and maintain its activities it produces an annual support card and asks for contributions from associations and guests, alongside special conventions with other structures. In 2026 the Casa is marking its 50th anniversary with a programme that includes a public assembly on 4 October 2026, a presentation of the Dyke March 2026, and numerous other events. The current leadership, as listed on the website’s organigramma page, includes President Barbara Leda Kenny and a 2026 board comprising Angela Ammirati, Francesca Casafina, Anna Caputo, Noemi Caputo, Sabrina Frasca and Elisabetta Canitano, with Roberta Marverti as treasurer. The Casa continues to be a reference point for feminist and lesbian organising in Rome and beyond.

• 2026

  The Casa celebrates 50 years (1976–2026) with a public assembly on 4 October 2026 and other events.

• 2010

  Statute of the “Consorzio Casa Internazionale delle Donne” dated September 2010.

• 1992

  The Casa Internazionale delle Donne project is listed among the works of Roma Capitale and approved by the municipality, leading to the creation of an autonomous body.

• 1987

  The Roman Feminist Movement occupies the 17th-century wing at Via della Lungara 19, contesting the assignment of part of the complex to Ente Santa Croce alla Lungara and starting negotiations with the municipality.

• 1983

  The Buon Pastore complex is designated for social purposes, with particular regard to women, obtained by the separatist feminist centre after eviction from Casa della Donna.

• 1976

  Beginning of the Casa Internazionale delle Donne project, as indicated by the 1976–2026 anniversary.

A unique feminist and lesbian cultural and political centre in Rome, rooted in the women’s movement and dedicated to women’s empowerment, memory and future protagonism.

• Permanent free workshops

  Free workshops starting from September, as announced on the website.

• Courses

  Various courses offered by the Casa, with enrolment open.

• Social services and counselling

  The Casa offers services and counselling, including a social desk (Sportello Sociale) open also on Tuesday afternoons.

• Cultural events and exhibitions

  Regular exhibitions, film screenings, book presentations and public assemblies.

1. 1Casa Internazionale delle Donnecasainternazionaledelledonne.org
2. 2Chi siamo - Casa Internazionale delle Donnecasainternazionaledelledonne.org
3. 3Statuto - Casa Internazionale delle Donnecasainternazionaledelledonne.org
4. 4Organigramma - Casa Internazionale delle Donnecasainternazionaledelledonne.org
5. 5International Women’s House in Rome - Wikidatawikidata.org