On November 25, 2025, the Italian Parliament approved a law that formally recognises femicide — the killing of a woman because of her gender. Italy now joins a small group of countries (e.g., Mexico, Chile) that explicitly criminalise femicide. Life imprisonment mandated for convicted offenders.
Why Femicide?
- Femicide is considered one of the most severe forms of gender-based violence.
- Motivation is linked to gender identity, not just interpersonal conflict → Therefore, requires distinct recognition and legal treatment.
UN Framework on Femicide (2022)
Based on relationship between perpetrator and victim:
- Intimate Partner Femicide
- Killing by spouse, boyfriend, partner (current or former).
- Family-Related Femicide
- Killing by blood relatives, marital relatives, or adoptive family.
- Other Perpetrator Femicide
- Killing by strangers, acquaintances, criminal groups, etc.
Global Data (UN Women Report, 2024)
- Nearly 50,000 women and girls killed by intimate partners or family members in 2024.
- Significant data gaps: many countries do not release detailed statistics.
How Do Other Countries Treat Femicide?
- Very few have a separate legal offence for femicide.
- Most nations use existing criminal laws (murder, assault), with:
- Gender as an aggravating factor, or
- Special provisions for certain crimes against women.
Example: India
- No specific “femicide” law.
- But has separate provisions for certain gendered crimes, e.g.:
- Dowry deaths (IPC 304B)
- Cruelty by husband/relatives (IPC 498A)
- Sexual violence laws with gender-specific elements
- India considers gender as an aggravating factor in sentencing in some cases.
Why a Separate Law Matters
- Recognises gender-based killings as a systemic social issue, not isolated crimes.
- Helps:
- Improve data collection
- Increase public and institutional awareness
- Strengthen prevention efforts
- Ensure stricter accountability
Source: IE
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