Politics Italy enacts its own law against femicide
Due to many cases of violence against women and girls, Italy will in future have a special paragraph in its criminal law against so-called femicides. The parliament in Rome passed a new law that can now come into force.
26.11.2025, 17:46
26.11.2025, 17:47
SDA
According to this law, crimes against women based on their gender can be punished with life imprisonment. In addition, the possible penalties for stalking and the distribution of fake videos have been tightened. Women's shelters are to receive more money.
The new regulation was unanimously approved by the Chamber of Deputies in the evening. The Senate had already approved it in the summer. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke of an "important sign against the barbarism of violence against women". What is new is that the term femicide has been added to the Italian legal system as a crime in its own right: Article 577 provides for life imprisonment if a woman was murdered because of her gender, out of hatred or to suppress her freedom.
Such sentences were also previously possible in Italy: last year, life imprisonment was imposed several times for the murder of women. This included a sentence against a 22-year-old student who had killed his ex-girlfriend, who was a year older than him, and then fled to Germany. According to official statistics, at least 85 women have been murdered in Italy since the beginning of this year. Most of the murders occurred within the family or among acquaintances.
Vote on tougher sexual criminal law postponed
A vote on tougher sexual criminal law was also originally planned. The Senate in Rome was supposed to introduce a law that would mean that any sex without explicit consent would be considered rape in future. Head of government Meloni was in favor of such stricter legislation. However, the right-wing populist Lega party of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini raised concerns about a clause, whereupon the vote was postponed.
