Femicide is the murder of a woman on hate crime grounds, i.e. because of her gender. The bill was voted through on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, reports the BBC.
The law, proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and supported by both her far-right party and the opposition, would normally carry a life sentence.
The issue has begun to be discussed increasingly intensely after the murder of Giulia Cecchettin in 2023. Her sister's words that the ex-boyfriend, the perpetrator, was not a monster but an ordinary son in a patriarchal society contributed to large demonstrations.
Valeria Torre, a law professor at the University of Foggia in Italy, told the BBC she fears the introduction of the law is just a game for the gallery. She fears the definition of femicide is too vague and will be difficult for judges to apply.
