Italy’s parliament on Tuesday approved a law that introduces femicide into the country’s criminal law and punishes it with life in prison.
The vote coincided with the international day for the elimination of violence against women, a day designated by the U.N. General Assembly.
The law won bipartisan support from the center-right majority and the center-left opposition in the final vote in the Lower Chamber, passing with 237 votes in favor.
The law, backed by the conservative government of Premier Giorgia Meloni, comes in response to a series of killings and other violence targeting women in Italy. It includes stronger measures against gender-based crimes including stalking and revenge porn.
I’m reading a lot of responses here that seem to rhyme with the “White lives matter!” responses to the BLM movement.
As was the case then, what seems to be getting missed by those saying this is the context. Italy has a major issue with domestic violence, including spousal murder. From the sound of it, it’s usually women who are the victims. Thus, a new law to target wife abusers specifically.
There may be some merit to debating whether this is an effective move or not, I’m not up on my research there; but let’s not deny that they see a need, and are attempting to address it.
Hi, saying “Italy has a major issue with domestic violence” it’s misleading. Compared to what? To Europe? (we are on the lower end of feminicides, and this law try to target this issue). More in general, Italy it’s a very safe place and homicides are lower than the average of europe.
Feminicides: https://www.europeandatajournalism.eu/cp_data_news/femicide-remains-all-too-common-in-italy-and-europe/
General intentional homicide: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
To further expand: Is it an issue? YES, is it even slightly going towards a resolution with this new law? NOPE. It’s just the next new big title from “Governo Meloni”, a right wing party that is in charge, will get re-elected but is acting like it’s on the opposition.
This is not like the “White lives matter” responses to the BLM movement. If they wanted to increase the “hate crime” or “gender crime” homicides penalties, they could have said something like “to address the feminicides we will be increasing all the hate/gender homicides penalties”. But this government hate gays and trans, just love a christian traditional family and slogans (which none of our representatives was able to mantain btw).
To begin with, instead of “Italy has a major issue with domestic violence”, would it be more fair to say “The Italian government sees domestic violence as a major issue”?
My post was a response to all the “it’s still just murder!” comments; because per your first source, Italian domestic violence does largely target women, and that does need addressed.
But it sounds like your problem with this legislation is that the government is using it to prop themselves up and make themselves look virtuous while they target other disadvantaged populations. Would you mind expanding on that? My knowledge of Italian current events is woefully lacking!
Is making the thing that’s already illegal illegal really addressing the issue? It seems like it’s more like paying lip service to the issue if it isn’t backed with some sort of positive social programs as well.
Oh yeah a sexist law to punish a cultural issue. Surely we can outlaw mentality better than to out-educate. Wasn’t murder already ilegal?