Deputies in the Italian parliament unanimously supported the bill to recognize the crime of femicide as an independent and separate criminal category. The bill was approved on the occasion of a day dedicated to reducing violence against women around the world and was seen as a symbolic step.
In particular, the tragic death of Giulia Cecchetti was a turning point that triggered the legal movement. 22-year-old Giulia, who was attacked with a knife by her ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta in late November 2023, wrapped her body in bags and threw it by a lake. The widespread media coverage of the incident and the strong reaction from Giulia’s sister, Elena, strengthened the public call for far-reaching reform.
The Parliament accepted this bill after an intense and controversial process that lasted two years. Thus, Italy became one of the few countries that classifies femicide as a separate crime. The government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and almost the entire opposition supported the bill. While red ribbons and red jackets are carried to commemorate the victims of violence, with the new legislation, every murder of a woman will now be recorded as a crime committed because of her gender.
This change in the agendaIt is considered as an important step taken by society towards combating patriarchal structures, and the law was implemented with the aim of being one of the limited number of countries globally to treat femicide in a separate category.
