Naming Femicide

Italy's unanimous vote to make femicide a distinct crime is a rare moment of national consensus ~ and a striking acknowledgment that violence against women is systemic, not incidental.

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For decades, murders of women were framed as "crimes of passion," hiding a deeper reality: these killings are rooted in male entitlement, control, and social hierarchy. By naming the crime, Italy refuses to let culture obscure the pattern.

The murder of Giulia Cecchettin, a young woman killed by her ex-boyfriend, was a catalyst. Her father's response ~ turning grief into education ~ shows that law alone cannot end violence. Social change must accompany legal change. Documenting femicide, understanding its motives, and confronting entrenched patriarchal norms are as crucial as any statute.