Italy Takes Historic Step Against Femicide: Life Imprisonment for Worst Offenders
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Italy has become the latest country to take a decisive stance against femicide, introducing life imprisonment for those found guilty of the heinous crime. The law, which was passed in the Lower Chamber with bipartisan support, comes at a critical time as the world marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. According to the Italian statistics agency Istat, 106 women were killed in 2024, with 62 of those cases involving partners or former partners. The law aims to tackle the growing problem of gender-based violence, which includes stalking and revenge porn. While the conservative government of Premier Giorgia Meloni has faced criticism for not addressing the root causes of the issue, such as economic and cultural divides, the opposition has welcomed the law as a crucial step forward. Meloni has pledged to continue taking action, doubling funding for anti-violence centers and shelters, promoting emergency hotlines, and implementing education programs. However, the debate over preventing gender-based violence has taken a contentious turn, with the government proposing a law that would ban sex and relationship education for elementary students and require parental consent for high school students. Critics have labeled the move as 'medieval,' while supporters argue it's necessary to protect children from ideological activism. Italy's Democratic Party leader, Elly Schlein, has called for compulsory sex and relationship education in all school cycles, emphasizing that 'repression is not enough without prevention.' The country's decision to introduce life imprisonment for femicide is a significant step towards addressing the crisis, but experts warn that more needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the first place.
