Italy's lower house of parliament speaker Laura Boldrini and reforms minister Maria Elena Boschi are among senior office-bearers who will address a march on Friday to protest violence against women.
Dozens of associations have said they will join the rally in the southern Italian city of Reggio Calabria which is expected to draw hundreds of marchers.
The protest follows the alleged gang-raping of a 13-year-old girl in Reggio Calabria over a period of two years by eight youths, including the son of a Calabrian mafia boss, who were arrested last month.
The youths blackmailed the girl to keep silent about the abuse, which began when she was just 11, according to prosecutors.
The gang rapes were carried out with the complicity of several adults including the girl's father according to prosecutors.
A local policeman is also under investigation in the horrifying case.
