“Life Sentence for Femicide,” headlines the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Italy establishes a separate criminal offense for the murder of women who are killed because they are women.

Such crimes have long received more public attention in Italy than in Germany and elsewhere. Newspapers report on them relatively frequently and in detail, television dedicates numerous programs to the topic, and individual cases are widely discussed even in private circles.

The number of such murders is significantly lower in Italy than in other European countries.

On the eve of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Meloni presented the new bill:

  • Femicide will be incorporated into the criminal code as a separate offense.

  • It is to be punishable by a life sentence as a rule, in contrast to other homicide offenses.

  • Aggravating circumstances such as treachery, exceptional cruelty, or mafia connections do not need to be specifically proven.

  • Sentence enhancements are planned for cases involving abuse, stalking, sexual violence, or revenge porn.

According to RND – RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland , sentence enhancements are also planned for other offenses specifically directed against women:

  • Sexual violence, threats, hate messages, stalking, the publication of nude photos out of revenge, and discrimination will be punished more severely if they occur within a family environment and are intended to prevent women from exercising their rights and freedoms.

  • In such cases, the judge will automatically increase the sentence by one to two-thirds.

  • Victims of gender-based violence will in the future be questioned not only by the police but also by a prosecutor.

  • Training courses will be introduced for future judges and prosecutors to better prepare them for handling such cases.

There is also criticism of the bill: Victim advocacy organizations complain that the far-right government relies solely on deterrence through punishment and does not include any preventive measures. They are calling for, among other things, more education in schools.

A member of the government-affiliated Lega party responded to this (according to taz) by saying that “sensitive topics” should be discussed at home rather than in schools. Otherwise, “politicized teachers” might introduce “gender ideology” into the classroom.

“One Billion Rising” is a global movement advocating for the end of violence against women and girls. Its name refers to the estimate that one billion women and girls worldwide experience violence in their lifetime. “One Billion Rising” also documents femicides in Germany and calls for addressing the root causes.

According to the latest count as of March 16, 2025, there have already been 68 femicide perpetrators in Germany:
Due to violence from their (ex-)partners, relatives, or acquaintances, 21 women, 4 men, and 1 teenager (16 years old) have died. Additionally, 45 women, 3 men, and a 10-year-old boy were injured, some severely; 5 women and a 15-year-old girl received death threats.

LAND-GRAZIEN, a counseling center for women and children affected by violence, was an exhibitor at the herCAREER Expo 2024.

In public spaces across many cities in Italy and other countries, installations featuring red women’s shoes serve as a memorial to the victims of femicide.

herVIEW - Natascha Hoffner

Posted by Natascha Hoffner,Founder & CEO of herCAREER | Recipient of the FTAfelicitas Award from Femtec.Alumnae e.V. | LinkedIn Top Voice 2020 | Editor of the “Women of the Year” books published by Callwey Verlag
published on LinkedIn on 18.03.2025

References: