ROME (AP) — On Tuesday, Italy's parliament approved a groundbreaking law that formally introduces the concept of femicide into the nation’s criminal code, imposing life sentences for those convicted of this crime. The legislation coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a significant date established by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness about gender-based violence.
The law received bipartisan support, with a final vote tally of 237 in favor, showcasing a rare moment of unity between the center-right majority and the center-left opposition. Premier Giorgia Meloni's conservative government backed this legislation in response to alarming trends in violence against women in Italy, marked by a series of brutal killings and other incidents. The law not only classifies femicide as a serious offense but also includes enhanced measures to combat related crimes such as stalking and revenge porn.
High-profile incidents like the murder of university student Giulia Cecchettin in 2023 have intensified public discourse around the issue of violence against women in Italy's deeply rooted patriarchal society. In light of this, Meloni announced that the government has doubled funding for anti-violence centers and shelters, developed an emergency hotline, and launched innovative education initiatives aimed at raising awareness. "These are concrete steps forward, but we won’t stop here. We must continue to do much more, every day," she asserted.
Despite the center-left opposition's support for the new law, they expressed concerns that the government’s approach focuses narrowly on the criminal aspects of femicide while neglecting the economic and cultural divides that contribute to gender-based violence. According to Italy’s statistics agency Istat, there were 106 femicides recorded in 2024, with 62 victims murdered by current or former partners.
Debate surrounding the introduction of sexual and emotional education in schools as a preventive measure against gender-based violence has become increasingly contentious. A proposed bill by the government seeks to ban sexual and emotional education for elementary school students and mandates explicit parental consent for such lessons in high schools. The ruling coalition defends this measure, framing it as a protective step against ideological indoctrination, while opposition parties and activists have criticized the bill as "medieval." Elly Schlein, head of Italy's Democratic Party, emphasized the need for comprehensive education by noting that "Italy is one of only seven countries in Europe where sex and relationship education is not yet compulsory in schools,” arguing that "repression is not enough without prevention, which can only start in schools."
This significant legislative move against femicide highlights a growing recognition of the need to confront gender-based violence in Italy. It also underscores the ongoing debate about educational reforms aimed at fostering a cultural shift, crucial for long-term progress in addressing these grave societal issues.
