Italy formally acknowledges femicide as a crime and imposes a life sentence as punishment
Parliament has approved a new law that criminalises femicide, imposing life imprisonment, in response to the increasing number of killings and widespread calls for enhanced protection across the nation.
View of the Victor Emmanuel II Monument, Rome, Italy
Italy has officially acknowledged femicide as a distinct crime, with parliament endorsing a significant law that imposes life imprisonment for those found guilty, marking a crucial advancement in the fight against rising violence towards women.
The vote in the Lower Chamber on Tuesday aligned with the international day for the elimination of violence against women, as designated by the UN General Assembly. The bill garnered support from both sides of the aisle, successfully passing with 237 votes in favor from the center-right majority and the center-left opposition.
Supported by the conservative administration of Premier Giorgia Meloni, the legislation addresses a wave of murders and gender-based violence that have deeply unsettled the nation. It further enhances protections against stalking and revenge porn.
The murder of university student Giulia Cecchettin in 2023, among other high-profile cases, has sparked significant public outrage and reignited discussions about the entrenched cultural attitudes present in Italy’s patriarchal society.
“We have increased funding for anti-violence centers and shelters, launched an emergency hotline, and introduced creative education and awareness-raising initiatives,” Meloni stated on Tuesday. “These represent tangible progress, yet our journey does not end here.” We need to persist in our efforts, day in and day out.
The center-left opposition, in supporting the legislation, contended that the government’s strategy emphasizes punishment excessively, neglecting the economic and cultural elements that play a role in gender-based violence.
In 2024, Italy’s statistics agency Istat reported 106 femicides, with 62 of these acts perpetrated by partners or former partners.
The discussion has grown more fervent regarding the initiation of prevention efforts within educational institutions. A proposal supported by the government seeks to prohibit sexual and emotional education for elementary students while mandating explicit parental consent for such lessons in high schools.
The ruling coalition justified the proposal as a means to safeguard children from ideological influence, while opposition parties and activists have denounced it as “medieval.”
“Italy is one of only seven countries in Europe where sex and relationship education is not yet compulsory in schools, and we are advocating for it to be mandatory across all school cycles,” stated Elly Schlein, the head of Italy’s Democratic Party. “Repression alone is insufficient; prevention must begin in schools.”
