Italy’s parliament has officially integrated the crime of femicide into its criminal code, establishing life imprisonment as a possible punishment for those convicted. This significant decision was unanimously approved on Tuesday and was hailed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a demonstration of “political cohesion against the barbaric nature of violence against women,” as reported by Italian public broadcaster RAI.
Prime Minister Meloni’s government has supported this legislative effort since its inception, along with advancing other critical legal measures designed to protect women, such as anti-stalking laws. In addition, the parliament is currently considering a bill that would make sexual intercourse without “free and actual consent” a criminal offense.
Meloni emphasized the government’s commitment to combating violence against women by stating, “We have doubled funding for anti-violence centers and shelters, promoted an emergency hotline and implemented innovative education and awareness-raising activities.” She acknowledged that while these initiatives represent meaningful progress, more work remains to be done to address this ongoing issue.
The timing of this vote coincided with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, highlighting the importance of global attention to this pressing matter. Last year, Italy reported 106 femicides, with 62 perpetrated by current or former partners, reflecting broader global trends where nearly two-thirds of female homicides are committed by intimate partners or family members, according to UN Women.
The issue of violence against women gained renewed public scrutiny in Italy following the tragic stabbing death of 22-year-old university student Giulia Cecchettin by her boyfriend, who was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. In response to the ongoing crisis, various rights groups, including the gender-based movement Non Una di Meno, have expressed concerns that Meloni’s administration is placing too much emphasis on punitive measures rather than preventative strategies.
Non Una di Meno has pointed out that Italy remains one of the few EU countries without mandatory sexual education in its public schools and noted that many existing programs require parental consent. They advocate for the necessity of focusing on “sexual and emotional education” and promoting the “economic wellbeing of women” as part of a more comprehensive approach to ending gender-based violence in the nation.