ROME – Italy’s Senate has unanimously passed a bill making femicide a standalone crime punishable by life imprisonment, marking a major shift in the country’s legal response to gender-based violence.
The measure, which still requires final approval in the lower house, is the most popular initiative of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government to date, according to recent polling.
Approved with 161 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions, the bill, initially criticised for vague language, defines femicide as an “act of discrimination or hatred toward the victim as a woman, or as a consequence of her refusal to enter or remain in a relationship, or to accept subjugation or restrictions on her individual freedoms due to her condition as a woman.”
The vote was followed by a rare 15-second standing ovation across party lines in what was an unusual show of unity. In 2024, 113 women were victims to femicide, of which 61 of them were killed by a partner or former partner.
Far-right Lega Senator and chair of parliament’s justice committee Giulia Bongiorno called it a “crucial intervention” that finally recognises the severity of gender-based killings.
Democratic Party Senator Anna Rossomando welcomed the bill but stressed the need for broader action. “The law alone won’t stop the violence. We need mandatory education on relationships and sexuality starting in primary school, and targeted training for educators,” she said.
