Italy’s femicide crisis spirals out of control

According to Italian media reports, between January 1 and July 31, 2025, 60 women have been killed in femicide cases across the country. Notably, women of foreign origin account for nearly 20% of the victims — a figure disproportionate to their share of Italy’s overall population.

Italian police have intensified their warnings, stressing that femicide is directly linked to the broader crisis of gender-based violence. Reports describe the issue as a national emergency, with schools increasingly becoming centers of such violence.

Experts warn that both the decreasing age of victims and perpetrators and the lack of sufficient emergency shelters for abused women are deeply troubling. Discrimination and racism in shelter admissions have compounded the crisis. Meanwhile, children orphaned by femicide are often left without support due to insufficient funding, creating another layer of tragedy.

The rise in psychological and sexual violence has further fueled the crisis. Despite the criminalization of femicide, Italy’s social and cultural responses have been largely inadequate. Experts argue that without significant resources for prevention, education, and protection, the law risks remaining symbolic rather than effective.

What makes femicide in Italy particularly distinct is its deep cultural and historical roots. Roman history is steeped in sexual violence and aggression against women, while Italian art, cinema, and education have, in many cases, glorified this culture, allowing the deadly cycle of femicide to persist.

Analysts stress that femicide does not occur in a vacuum; rather, these tragedies are the product of a society that continues to legitimize violence against women.