By Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, Palazzo Chigi
The Italian government has approved a draft law that, for the first time, establishes a legal definition of femicide within the nation’s criminal code, prescribing life imprisonment as the penalty for this crime.
This initiative, announced just prior to International Women’s Day on Saturday, seeks to address a disturbing trend of violence and killings directed at women in Italy by enhancing measures against gender-based offenses such as stalking and revenge porn.
The proposal, which received agreement late Friday, must still pass through parliament and gain approval from both legislative chambers to be enacted into law.
“This is a highly significant piece of legislation that recognizes femicide as an independent crime within our legal framework, subjecting it to life imprisonment,” stated conservative Premier Giorgia Meloni, a strong proponent of the initiative. She noted that the law introduces aggravating factors and escalates penalties for offenses including domestic abuse, stalking, sexual violence, and revenge porn.
While the center-left opposition acknowledged the importance of this development, it emphasized that the new legislation only addresses the criminal dimension of the issue, neglecting the underlying economic and cultural disparities. Recently, femicide has been recognized as a systemic issue deeply rooted in Italy’s patriarchal culture, with certain violent incidents reigniting discussions on gender-based violence.
A particularly notable case was that of Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old university student who was brutally murdered by her former boyfriend, Filippo Turetta, in November 2023. In December of the same year, Turetta was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Recent research indicates that, although the overall homicide rate in the Mediterranean nation has been decreasing, the incidence of femicides remains relatively stable or shows only a slight decline, with these cases predominantly associated with familial or intimate relationships of the victims.
According to official statistics from the Italian Interior Ministry, there were 113 femicides recorded in 2024, with 99 of these committed by family members, partners, or former partners.
The women’s rights organization Non Una di Meno, which annually organizes demonstrations in various Italian cities and a one-day strike in observance of International Women’s Day, has expressed strong criticism regarding the proposed legislation.
“This is merely a propaganda tactic,” stated activist Serena Fredda during a march with thousands in central Rome. “This government tends to amplify crime rates and overlooks the fact that, despite harsher penalties, there is no genuine deterrent effect.” Fredda emphasized that femicide represents only a small fraction of the issue, asserting the need to address the broader discrimination faced by women in educational and professional settings.
