Femicide continues to reoccur in Italy. In 2023, Giulia Cecchettin had dreams of becoming a comic artist and planned to graduate from university on the 16th November 2023.
Cecchettin’s life was tragically cut short, at twenty-two years of age, when she was brutally attacked and killed by her ex-boyfriend, Filippo Turetta.
Turetta, who in the past had shown signs of controlling and possessive behavior, was later condemned to life in prison. The case, and ensuing manhunt when Turetta tried to flee the scene of the crime became a media sensation in Italy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X, after Cecchettin’s remains were recovered that, “Our greatest fears have come true.” Meloni continued to say that violence against women “cannot be tolerated.”
Epistemic Violence Against Women
The case sparked a nationwide debate and protests when Giulia Cecchettin’s sister, Elena, accused her killer of being “the healthy son of a patriarchal society,” in which possession of women’s bodies and violence against women are normalised.
Giulia Cecchettin is one of many Italian victims of gender based violence.
The word femicide refers to the gender based killing of women by men. In Italy, one woman is killed every three days, almost always victims of violence by partners or family members.
While in recent years, the number of male victims of homicide in Italy has fallen, the number of female victims has remained stable. The incidence of homicides of women committed in the domestic sphere has remained unchanged. Italy also lags behind its EU peers in other measures of gender equality.
New Draft Legislation
Can harsher legislation prevent violence against women? This question will be presented to the Italian Parliament this month.
In the wake of high profile femicides like that of Giulia Cecchettin, Prime Minister Meloni swore to expand protection measures for vulnerable women and started a public awareness campaign against femicide.
In March 2025, on the eve of international women’s day, Italy introduced a draft law that adds a legal definition of femicide to the country’s criminal law, and punishes it with life in prison.
Meloni claimed that the bill was “extremely significant”, as it introduced femicide as an autonomous crime with life imprisonment as a punishment.
Meloni said that the bill would also introduce aggravating circumstances and increased sentences for crimes like personal mistreatment, stalking, sexual violence, and revenge porn.
While the centre-left opposition welcomed the bill, they claimed that the new laws will only punish the criminal aspect of the issue and still fail to address economic inequality and chauvinistic cultural attitudes towards women.
MP Elly Schlein of the Democratic Party in the past has called for efforts “to eradicate the toxic patriarchal culture of possession and control over women’s bodies and lives”, and has stressed that the law on its own will not prevent violence and discrimination against women. The proposal still needs to go through Parliament and must be approved by both chambers to become law.
Beyond Punishment: The Need for Systemic Change
Although the legislation is a landmark for tackling violence against women, many remain sceptical that it will actually help prevent further violence.
Activist Serena Fredda of feminist and anti-violence organisation Non Una di Meno claimed that the draft legislation was a propaganda move.
Fredda said, “This is a government that tends to multiply crimes and forgets that, despite the increase in penalties, there is no real deterrence.”
Fredda is dubious that the legislation will actually help eliminate violence and discrimination against women- she believes that laws like these are ineffective without combating misogyny at a societal level.
While this draft law represents an important step towards recognising violence against women, its true effectiveness beyond being a symbolic gesture remains uncertain. Critics continue to argue that the law, while potentially a step in the right direction, will not truly prevent violence against women without more comprehensive measures.
Looking Inwards? A Cultural Shift
Cases like that of Giulia Cecchettin cannot be prevented without a cultural shift that addresses deep-rooted misogyny and prioritises the freedoms of women.
Whether this new draft law marks a turning point will depend on the Italian government’s willingness to eliminate the root causes of gender based violence.
Experts underline the necessity of initiatives and education that challenge patriarchal attitudes, provide economic opportunities for women, and ensure greater institutional accountability.
Many feminist activists also assert the need for broader, more systemic approaches for dealing with gender inequality and misogyny.
The tragic case of Giulia Cecchettin serves a reminder of the urgent need for action. While this new law is a sign of progress, in order to be effective it must be accompanied by a society wide effort to combat misogyny and gender based violence at its root.
The true test of Italy’s commitment to protecting women will be whether it can implement policies that go beyond punishment and actively foster a safer, more equal society.
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