The tragic death of a young girl, Giulia Cecchettin, murdered by her ex-boyfriend has united Italy’s political parties in the fight against the growing number of murders of women. Democratic Party Secretary Ellie Schlein called on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to work together to pass legislation on the problem, Euractiv reports.
In her address, Schlein (S&D) called on men, not just women, to take more action, citing a “toxic patriarchal culture” as the reason for the rise in female homicides. Schlein, who insists on introducing “education in respect and affectivity” in schools, said:
At least in the fight against this slaughter of women and girls, let’s leave aside the political clash and try to make the country take a step forward. If action is not already taken in schools and in the culture to eradicate the violent and criminal idea of control and possession over women’s bodies and lives, it will always be too late.
Italy already has a law against femicide called Code Red, which Meloni’s government is currently strengthening. Meloni did not respond to Schlein’s appeal, but expressed condolences to the Cecchettin family, calling for light to be shed on the crime and expecting government intervention. Meloni (Fratelli d’Italia/ECR) said:
I followed the updates on the case with apprehension and, until the end, I hoped for a different outcome. The discovery of Giulia’s lifeless body is heartbreaking news (…) Every single woman killed because she is ‘guilty’ of being free is an aberration that cannot be tolerated, and that pushes me to continue on the path taken to stop this barbarity.
The House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill to strengthen protections for women at risk by expanding prevention efforts. The bill will be presented to the Senate next Wednesday.
Among the measures in the bill are strict timelines for judicial risk assessment and application of preventive measures, as well as warning, electronic bracelet, minimum distance, arrest even in case of “deferred flagellation”.
Family Minister Eugenia Rocchella also recalled that the government has increased funding for the plan to combat violence and protect women victims of violence and has prepared an information campaign in schools, as well as disseminated information about the 1522 anti-violence hotline. Roccella said:
Our response is not only heartbreak, unspeakable, for a chain of deaths to which a new horror is added each time. Our response is decisive action.
A report published by the Criminal Analysis Service of the Central Office of the Judiciary shows that from January 2023 to date, 285 murders have been registered in Italy, of which 102 victims were women, most of them killed in the home. 53 women were killed by their partners or ex-partners, and compared to 2022, the number of crimes committed against women in the family has increased by 4%.
ActionAid’s recent report also highlights the problem of resource allocation to tackle this phenomenon, which has increased by 156% since 2013 to no avail. ActionAid also denounces the lack of a “medium and long-term prevention strategy to combat the widespread patriarchal and macho culture in the country”.
