• Georgia Meloni
    Politics

    Landmark Legislation to Combat Gender Violence in Italy

    European Newsdesk Posted on

    The government led by Giorgia Meloni has approved a draft law that marks a turning point in the fight against violence against women in Italy. The new decree, announced on the eve of March 8th, makes femicide an independent crime.

    Under the proposed law, if a woman’s death is caused as an act of discrimination or hatred, or to suppress her rights and freedoms, the offender will face life imprisonment. In cases not meeting these criteria, Article 575 of the Penal Code will apply, with a minimum sentence of 21 years. This development was detailed by Carlotta De Leo in her article, describing the measure as a “groundbreaking innovation.”

    In addition to establishing femicide as a standalone offense, the decree also increases penalties for other gender-related crimes.

    For example, if domestic abuse is committed as an act of discrimination, the sentence is raised by between one third and one half. Similarly, for offenses such as threats and revenge porn, the penalty is increased by one third to two thirds.

    The bill further strengthens the “red code” by mandating that public prosecutors must personally hear victims in such cases, rather than delegating this task to the police. It also introduces new training requirements for magistrates, ensuring they are better equipped to handle cases involving violence against women.

    According to data from ISTAT and other official sources, the issue of violence against women remains a significant concern in Italy.

    Statistics indicate that between 90 and 100 cases of femicide are recorded annually, while thousands of complaints related to domestic violence and other gender-based offenses are filed each year.

    These figures underscore the urgency of implementing robust legislative and cultural interventions to protect women and secure justice for the victims.

    Another aspect of the domestic violence challenge in Italy involves certain immigrant communities. Some studies and official reports have noted that in specific contexts, immigrant households appear to have a higher incidence of reported domestic violence, including instances of honor killings and practices such as female genital mutilation.

    The decree tackles this specifically in addition to other  offences against women .

     The decree mandates enhanced penalties—taking into account the new aggravating circumstances—for other offenses, including personal injuries, serious or very serious injuries, acts involving the mutilation of female genital organs, permanent disfigurement of a person’s appearance through facial injuries, preterintentional homicide, and stalking.

    Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has described the decree as “a groundbreaking innovation” that not only resolves several technical issues in the current legal framework but also sends a clear message of commitment to combating gender-based violence.

    Family and Gender Equality Minister Eugenia Roccella, along with Reform Minister Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, have emphasized that this initiative is as much a cultural statement as it is a legal reform—a necessary step to halt what has been termed an “intolerable scourge.” She also said that the draft law was designed to acknowledge the “asymmetry of power between men and women”.

    With this comprehensive legislative package, the Meloni government aims to provide a prompt and decisive response to a phenomenon that not only devastates individual lives but also poses a serious challenge to human rights and the development of a truly inclusive and equal society.

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