Femicide In Italy

Italy Approves New Law Defining Femicide as a Sex-Based Crime, Punishable by Life Imprisonment

BY Annette "Annie" Fundora

Rome, Italy – The Italian government has approved a historic draft law that, for the first time, introduces the legal definition of femicide in the country’s criminal code and mandates life imprisonment for those convicted.

The move, announced on the eve of International Women’s Day, comes in response to an alarming increase in sex-based crimes in Italy, including murder, stalking, and revenge pornography.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the legislation a “necessary step” in addressing the epidemic of male violence against women and reinforcing legal protections for women facing systemic oppression. “This law sends a strong message: the murder of a woman because she is a woman is a crime that will no longer go without the harshest punishment,” she said in a statement.

Italy has witnessed a disturbing rise in femicides, with 113 women murdered in 2024 alone—the majority of them killed by current or former intimate partners. Women’s rights organizations have long called for harsher punishments and stronger protections, arguing that existing laws do not adequately deter violent offenders.

The new law also strengthens measures against sex-based violence, including expanded protections for women at risk, increased penalties for crimes such as stalking and non-consensual pornography, and enhanced support for survivors.

As the bill moves toward final approval, advocates continue to push for broader reforms, including better resources for women escaping abusive situations and improved education on sex-based oppression. With this legal recognition of femicide, Italy joins a growing list of countries seeking to address violence against women as a systemic issue, rather than isolated acts of crime.