ROME — The Italian government has taken a significant step by endorsing a draft legislation that, for the first time, formally defines femicide in the nation’s criminal law, imposing life sentences for those convicted. This development, revealed just ahead of International Women’s Day, symbolizes a strategic effort to confront the alarming rate of violence and murders targeting women across Italy through intensified actions against gender-based offenses, including harassment and revenge pornography.
The draft, settled late last Friday, requires parliamentary approval where it must pass both houses to be enacted into law. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a conservative leader, has been a strong advocate for this initiative, emphasizing the draft’s importance. “The legislation is profoundly vital as it identifies femicide as an independent crime within our legal framework, sanctioning it with life imprisonment,” Meloni expressed in her statement.
Moreover, the proposal incorporates harsher penalties for various crimes such as stalking, sexual assaults, personal maltreatment, and revenge porn. While the legislation received support from the center-left opposition, they also highlighted its focus on curbing criminal activities without addressing underlying socio-economic and cultural disparities. The prevalence of femicide remains a pressing concern within Italy’s male-dominated society, sparking renewed discussions on crimes driven by gender bias.
A particularly shocking incident involved the murder of Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old student, who was brutally killed by her ex-boyfriend in November 2023. The perpetrator, Filippo Turetta, received a life sentence in December of the same year.
Recent research indicates that despite a downward trend in overall homicides in Italy, femicide rates either remain stable or only slightly decline, with many cases connected to familial or intimate relationships of the victims. Data from the Italian Interior Ministry for 2024 recorded 113 cases of femicide, with 99 of these offenses involving family members, partners, or former partners.
However, the reaction from women rights organizations like Non Una di Meno reflects skepticism. Each year, this group organizes demonstrations and a strike to commemorate International Women’s Day. According to activist Serena Fredda, this legislative action seems largely performative. While marching amidst a large crowd in Rome, she remarked, “The government appears to be multiplying criminal classifications without addressing the core issue, as increased penalties alone do not act as a real deterrent.”
Fredda further emphasized that “femicide may be just the visible part of a deeply embedded issue. It is crucial to focus on eradicating systemic discrimination that affects women from educational institutions to workplaces.”
