Italy’s parliament has passed a new law that officially makes femicide, the killing of a woman because she is a woman, a separate crime that can be punished with life imprisonment. Local media reported that the vote took place on Tuesday, the same day the world observed the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Members of the Chamber of Deputies, Italy’s lower house, voted unanimously in favour of the law.

The new law follows a draft approved in March by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government. For the first time, the law adds a clear legal definition of femicide to Italy’s criminal code and sets the punishment at a life sentence.

Prime Minister Meloni welcomed the decision, saying: "I am very pleased with Parliament's approval of the bill introducing the crime of femicide."

Over 100 women killed in Italy in 2024

According to data shared by Italy’s National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), 106 femicides took place in the country in 2024, almost one every three days. The numbers show how serious the problem remains and why lawmakers pushed for stricter rules.

In India, violence against women is addressed through several laws, but there is no dedicated law that defines femicide as a separate crime.

  • Domestic violence is covered under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

  • Sexual crimes, acid attacks, stalking, and related offences were strengthened under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.

  • Murders are punished under the Indian Penal Code, but they are not categorised by gender.

Researchers have said that femicide is a serious issue in India too, but it is not recognised legally as its own crime. Government programmes aimed at reducing violence against women mainly focus on prevention, better laws, fast-track courts, and support systems, rather than creating a separate femicide law.