The Italian government has approved a draft law that officially recognises femicide as a distinct crime within the country's criminal law, with penalties of up to life imprisonment, reports AP.

This decision, announced just before International Women's Day on Saturday, aims to address the alarming rate of homicides and violence against women in Italy. The law proposes stronger measures against gender-based crimes such as stalking and revenge porn.

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The proposal, agreed upon late Friday, still requires approval by both houses of parliament to become law.

“This is a highly significant bill, which introduces femicide as an independent crime in our legal framework, with a life sentence as the penalty,” said conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a strong supporter of the measure. “It also includes aggravating factors and harsher sentences for crimes like personal abuse, stalking, sexual violence, and revenge porn,” she added.

While the centre-left opposition welcomed the initiative, they noted that the law focuses only on the criminal aspect, leaving economic and cultural disparities unaddressed.

Femicide has become a systemic issue deeply rooted in Italy’s patriarchal culture, with some violent incidents sparking renewed discussions on gender-based violence. A notable case was the murder of Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old university student fatally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta in November 2023. In December, Turetta was sentenced to life imprisonment.

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Recent studies show that, although homicides are decreasing in Italy, femicides remain stable or decline only slightly, with the majority linked to domestic or emotional relationships. According to the Italian Interior Ministry, 113 femicides were recorded in 2024, 99 of which were committed by family members, partners, or ex-partners.