The Italian Parliament unanimously supported a bill on Tuesday recognizing femicide — the intentional killing of women or girls based on their gender — as a crime punishable by life imprisonment, LETA reports citing AFP.
A new article of the Criminal Code introduces a category of murder 'based on the characteristics of the victim,' according to the explanatory note to the bill.
Previously, Italian legislation only provided for aggravating circumstances in cases where the murderer was married to or related to the victim.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni positively assessed the parliamentary vote, calling the bill a tool for 'protecting the freedom and dignity of every woman.'
The government initiative, approved by the Senate in July, was passed by the lower house of parliament with 237 votes in favor and no votes against.
The new article of the Criminal Code provides for life imprisonment for actions aimed at causing the death of a woman 'on the grounds of discrimination, hatred, violence' or other reasons.
On Tuesday, the UN marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, publishing a report stating that last year around 50,000 women and girls were killed by their partners or family members.
The National Institute of Statistics of Italy, ISTAT, reported that out of 327 registered murders in 2024, 116 were related to women and girls. In 92.2% of cases, the murderers were men.
Leave a comment