Archive · 28 Nov 2025
Italy Introduces Femicide as Distinct Crime
Italy has made femicide a separate crime from murder.
This means if a woman is killed because she is a woman, the punishment is life in prison.
The law was passed after many people in Italy were upset by the murder of a young woman named Giulia Cecchettin.
Around the world, a woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes just because they are female.
In Italy, almost all women who were murdered last year were killed because of their gender.
The new law is a big step, but some people think it might be hard to prove in court.
Italy is now one of the few countries to have this specific law.
Italy has introduced femicide as a distinct crime, punishable by life imprisonment.
The law was passed unanimously by the Italian parliament, influenced by high-profile cases like Giulia Cecchettin's murder.
Over 90% of the 116 women murdered in Italy last year were killed because of their sex.
Globally, a woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes due to femicide, with 83,000 victims in 2023.
Critics argue the definitions of femicide are too vague and may be difficult to prove in court.
- Who
- Italian Parliament, UN Women, Italian citizens
- What
- Introduction of femicide as a distinct crime in Italy
- When
- Passed on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
- Where
- Italy
- Why
- To address widespread violence against women and high-profile cases like Giulia Cecchettin's murder
- Country
- Italy
- Law Passed
- Femicide as distinct crime
- Sentence
- Life imprisonment
- Yearly Femicides in Italy (2023)
- 116
- Global Femicide Rate
- Every 10 minutes
- Global Femicide Victims (2023)
- 83,000
- Key Case
- Giulia Cecchettin's murder
- Criticism
- Vague definitions, hard to prove
