A Statue by the Sea: Memory, Resistance, and Universal Women’s Rights in Stintino, Sardinia

On June 22, 2024, the coastal town of Stintino in Sardinia, Italy, became home to the first “Statue of Peace” (“comfort women” memorial) installed in Italy. This paper examines how this Korean memorial reached a small town of 1,600 residents, analyzing the local actors involved, community responses, and ensuing tensions. Based on fieldwork conducted in May–June 2025, including interviews with Mayor Rita Limbania Vallebella and project initiator Rosamaria Caiazza, the study shows how a retired teacher’s interest in Korean culture aligned with a feminist mayor’s commitment to combating gender violence, creating a powerful alliance for historical memory and women’s rights.