Today, Tuesday, the Italian House of Representatives finally and unanimously approved a draft law criminalizing a crime FemicideAnd punished with life imprisonment. In conjunction with the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, corresponding to November 25, the Italian Parliament gave the green light to Amending its penal codeIn Article 577 thereof, to introduce the crime of female murder and sentence that crime to life imprisonment.
Hence, the new provision will define femicide as any murder in which the assailant kills a woman for “Hatred, discrimination, or acts of control, possession, or domination based on gender“, or in retaliation for refusal to maintain or continue a romantic relationship. In the most serious cases, these crimes are punishable by life imprisonment, and by imprisonment of 15 to 24 years if mitigating circumstances are recognized.
Although Italian legislation considered femicide an aggravating factor in murder cases, from now on It becomes a crime in itselfIt is embodied in criminal procedures, prison sentences, and aggravating circumstances, in addition to tightening penalties for crimes related to violence against women, such as harassment or publishing intimate images without consent.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni admitted that she was “very satisfied” with the approval of this law, which she said “is tantamount to… An important sign of unity in politics Against the barbarity of violence against women.” The legal change, promoted by the government of the far-right Fratelli d’Italia party, was supported by a majority of the Italian legislature, after also receiving approval from the Senate.
In addition, the new legislation provides more money for “shelters”, expands legal protection for femicide orphans, expands the criteria for obtaining compensation, and will oblige the Minister of Justice to come once a year to study the situation of this scourge.