Italy Creates Femicide Offense Punishable by Life in Prison

Overview

• The Chamber of Deputies passed the measure 237–0, completing parliamentary approval, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly welcomed the result.
• Article 577-bis of the Penal Code establishes femicide as a distinct criminal category rather than only an aggravating factor in homicide.
• Life imprisonment applies when a woman is killed for reasons of gender discrimination, hatred, or to suppress her personal freedom.
• The statute also covers killings linked to a woman’s refusal to start or maintain an intimate relationship or to acts restricting her individual liberties.
• The law includes support for victims and families, providing assistance to minors who lose their mother and guaranteeing free legal aid regardless of income.