In a significant move against gender-based violence, the Italian Parliament has officially passed a law that legally recognises femicide as a distinct crime. The landmark decision, approved on Tuesday, November 25, received broad cross-party support from both the ruling centre-right majority and the centre-left opposition.
What is Femicide and Why a Specific Law?
Femicide is defined as the killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. This is not merely a homicide; it is the most extreme manifestation of violence rooted in gender inequality and patriarchal structures. A United Nations framework categorises these killings into three types: those committed by intimate partners, by other family members, and by other perpetrators.
The push for a specific law in Italy gained immense momentum following a series of high-profile and brutal cases that shocked the nation. One such case in 2023 involved a university student who was stabbed 70 times by her ex-boyfriend. The investigation revealed a pattern of possessive and controlling behaviour, which the victim had documented in a poignant list titled "15 reasons I had to break up with him" months before her murder.
By enacting a separate law, Italy aims to acknowledge that these crimes have a specific motive—gender hatred and a desire to dominate—which differentiates them from other murders. The law mandates life imprisonment as the punishment for femicide.
A Global Problem and the Patchwork of Laws
Italy now joins a small cohort of countries, including Mexico and Chile, that have specific femicide laws. This legal recognition is crucial for raising societal awareness and directing resources towards combating the root causes of such violence.
A recent UN Women report presented a grim global picture, finding that in 2024 alone, nearly 50,000 women and girls were killed worldwide by intimate partners or other family members. However, a lack of detailed data from many countries means the true figure is likely much higher.
While most nations have laws against murder and assault, the vast majority do not criminalise femicide specifically. Some, like India with its laws on dowry deaths, have separate provisions for certain gender-based crimes. Others treat the victim's gender as an aggravating factor that can lead to a harsher sentence. The core argument for a separate femicide law is that it forces the legal system and society to confront the misogynistic underpinnings of these acts.
Challenges and the Road Ahead for Italy
Despite this progressive step, the journey towards comprehensive protection for women in Italy is not over. Experts point out that such laws can have broad definitions, potentially creating legal complexities. For them to be truly effective, they must be part of a broader overhaul of the justice system.
A parallel and heated debate is currently underway in the Italian Parliament to finally codify that sex without consent constitutes rape. Currently, Italian law defines sexual violence using terms like "violence, threats, or abuse of authority," which can make prosecuting non-consensual sex difficult. Some conservative politicians have voiced opposition to this change, fearing it could lead to false accusations and overwhelm the courts.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, supporting the new femicide law, stated her determination "to build an Italy in which no woman should ever feel alone, threatened or not believed." This legal recognition is a powerful step towards that goal, signalling that the killing of women because they are women will be met with the full force of the law.
