Sibilla Barbieri

In 2008, alongside Simona Barbieri, Sibilla founded La Siliàn, a production company that crafted a wide array of content, including commercials, short films, documentaries, and feature-length movies. Their productions received numerous accolades over the years, with their 2020 work titled "Dio salvi la Regina" earning particular recognition. In this project, Barbieri not only acted but also contributed as a screenwriter.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Barbieri was deeply engaged in advocacy work. As a counselor at the Luca Coscioni Association, she actively voiced her views on scientific research freedom. Her speeches on the organization's website, available for all to listen, underscored her commitment to scientific inquiry and accessible knowledge. Additionally, she collaborated with her son, Vittorio Parpaglioni, on the docu-series "Più di chiunque altro" for RaiPlay, amplifying the voices and concerns of the younger generation.

Barbieri's life took a profound turn when she received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Faced with the limitations of Italy's legal framework, which denied her the choice of assisted suicide, she confronted the disparities in end-of-life care options. The ASL of Rome refused her request for voluntary euthanasia, a decision that intensified her resolve to seek alternatives.

Determined to exercise her right to a peaceful exit from life, Barbieri traveled to Switzerland, where assisted suicide was legally sanctioned. Accompanied by her son, Vittorio Parpaglioni, and former Radical Senator Marco Perduca, she found solace in a country where her wishes were respected and legally supported.

Barbieri's story highlighted a stark reality in Italy's healthcare system: a discrimination faced by terminal cancer patients. The legal requirements set by the Constitutional Court's Cappato/Dj Fabo ruling became a barrier for individuals like Barbieri, compelling them to seek help beyond national borders. Her online plea before her journey emphasized the urgent need for state intervention to rectify these disparities.

In her final moments, Sibilla Barbieri eloquently condemned the profound inequalities endured by terminally ill individuals. Her courageous journey to Switzerland and her subsequent passing became a testament to the necessity of choice in one's final moments. Her advocacy echoed far beyond her passing, challenging the Italian state to rectify these inequities and uphold the fundamental right to a dignified death

Suffering from terminal cancer, Barbieri was a council member of the Luca Coscioni Association. For a long time, she had been attempting to voluntarily end her life, but her request was denied by the ASL of Rome. Consequently, she traveled to a Swiss clinic, where she chose assisted suicide in November 2023. Her passing highlighted the disparities in end-of-life choices between different countries, shedding light on the need for reform in Italy’s laws regarding assisted dying.

Sibilla Barbieri passed away on November 6, 2023.

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