Facing Italy's Patriarchal Past: The Shocking Reality of Femicide Cases
In a chilling pattern, victims of femicide in Italy share a tragic connection with their perpetrators - they knew them. Stabbings, shootings, and strangulations reveal a dark underbelly as the nation confronts its history of patriarchy.
All the women killed by femicide in Italy shared one common trait - they knew their killers. Some were stabbed, some were shot, and some were strangled. In 2023, over 100 women lost their lives to femicide. The term 'femicide' refers to the killing of a woman by a current or former partner, and it gained significant attention in Italy, with an Italian encyclopedia even naming it as the word of the year in 2023.
Italy currently has a female prime minister who does not label herself as a feminist.
Up until 1981, crimes of passion were not criminalized in the country. Even now, the judicial system tends to give lenient sentences to male murderers, especially if their wives were unfaithful.
In a high-profile case in 2020, Antonio Gozzini, an 80-year-old man, was acquitted of killing his 62-year-old wife, Cristina Maioli. The court ruled that he acted out of a fit of extreme jealousy, known as a "raptus", triggered by his wife's job at a nearby school. Despite the verdict, Gozzini remains a free man today.
According to activist and filmmaker Lorella Zanardo, the problem of domestic violence in Italy is fueled by societal shortcomings.
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Women are fighting for gender equality because what is at stake is human life. This conversation was sparked by Zanardo's 2009 documentary "Il Corpo delle Donne" or "Women's Bodies," which shed light on sexism in Italian public and private television. The documentary highlighted the connection between sexism, sexual assault, and the importance of gender equality.
Italy may not have the highest rate of domestic violence in Europe, but it is one of the lowest ranked countries in terms of gender equality.
In 2023, Italy's ranking dropped compared to the previous year due to factors such as rising wage disparity. This makes it more difficult for women to leave abusive marriages as they may not have the financial means to support themselves.
"Italy has a long history of patriarchy, but it is also a country that can be challenging to understand. In the 70s, one of the most significant and successful women's movements took place in Italy," Zanardo shared.
"After this movement, I wondered what happened next. It's hard to put into words, but this movement was highly political and carried a strong political message."
The Wall of the Dolls, il Muro delle Bambole, is an art installation in Milan that raises awareness of violence against women.
The Wall of the Dolls, il Muro delle Bambole, is an art installation in Milan that raises awareness of violence against women.
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Part of the problem with having a feminist movement so closely tied to politics is that it becomes divisive.
In Italy, the feminist movement was mainly supported by the left. This led to a situation where individuals aligned with right-leaning parties, such as current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have chosen to distance themselves from feminism altogether.
According to Zanardo, "We have a woman prime minister, but she's completely against it." She noted that Meloni goes as far as using the masculine article before the Italian word 'prime minister,' rather than acknowledging and celebrating the fact that Italy has one of the world's few female leaders.
Zanardo believes that by referring to herself as ‘il’ prime minister like a man, Meloni is challenging gender stereotypes and showing that women can be leaders. She could also inspire younger generations to see that women can be activists in various fields, including language.
When asked about the reason for using the male article in front of her title, Meloni's office did not provide a response.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited 10 Downing Street in London on April 27, 2023. This marked her first official visit to the UK since being elected in October. During her meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, they discussed strengthening ties between Italy and the UK, particularly focusing on shared concerns regarding migrant boats. The leaders aim to enhance cooperation and collaboration between the two countries.
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meets with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street on April 27, 2023 in London, England. Italy's far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni makes her first visit to the UK since her election last October. She is looking to strengthen ties between the UK and Italy and shares commonality on concerns over migrant boats. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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Feminist movements have played a crucial role in promoting equality worldwide. According to the Council of Europe, feminism aims to eliminate sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression in order to achieve full gender equality in both law and in reality.
Italy’s Prime Minister Meloni has been vocal about championing ‘family values.’ However, critics argue that she is not doing enough to protect women from violence.
Feminist movements are at the forefront of aiding Italian abuse victims.
CADMI, located in Milan, serves as a shelter and resource center for women who have experienced abuse. Over the past year, CADMI has successfully helped 600 women escape abusive situations.
The center was established by Italy’s Union of Women, a left-leaning anti-fascist feminist group, with the aim of providing women with a support system. Cristina Carelli, who is in charge of the center, mentioned to CNN that their focus is on rehabilitating and educating women to help them transition from being victims to survivors, while also promoting financial independence. Since its inception in 1986, the center has assisted over 36,000 women. Carelli emphasizes the importance of building trusting relationships for empowerment, although the journey has been challenging at times.
When they first began, people were skeptical of them, according to Carelli.
"They were quite young, and they hadn't yet acknowledged the violence they had experienced or had the opportunity to break free from that cycle. Why? Simply because the anti-violence centers were not widely recognized," she explained.
Carrelli thinks that success can motivate other women. She believes that a woman's journey to freedom is significant not only for herself but for all women. It symbolizes a possibility and reinforces the idea that women deserve to be free. This holds great political value for us.
Students gathered outside the University of Milan on November 22, holding banners that read "Femicide is a state murder" and "We want us alive". They were protesting the murder of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin. 
Last year, in November, a tragic incident occurred involving 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin. Her body was discovered in a ravine in northern Italy, showing signs of multiple knife wounds. This happened just a week after she was last seen with her ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta.
Turetta ran away to Germany and admitted to the authorities that he had murdered the woman he used to consider his girlfriend, even though they had broken up.
According to Cecchettin's friends, she was worried that Turetta was stalking her. In an attempt to resolve the issue, she agreed to meet with him, as per her sister's account.
Turetta is currently waiting for a speedy trial where his confession will be taken into consideration. Although he could potentially face life imprisonment, it is likely that he will receive a shorter sentence due to his confession, as seen in similar cases before.
The murder of Cecchettin sparked a national conversation on violence against women, leading to widespread protests throughout the country. Over 8,000 individuals, including Italy's president, attended her funeral. However, just a week after her burial, four more women lost their lives at the hands of their ex-husbands or boyfriends.
Names of women who have been killed by men are displayed on the Colosseum, illuminated in red, to pay tribute to them on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Rome, Italy on November 25, 2021. 
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Maria Grazia escaped a relationship she describes as abusive.
Many women in Italy feel that when they try to escape their abusers or fear for their lives, the police do not take them seriously. They often find that authorities are condescending or accusatory, blaming the victim for provoking the abuser or suggesting they should just let the situation "cool off."
Maria Grazia shared with CNN that she faced constant threats, including weapons, messages, and insults. Her intercom was broken, and she couldn't sleep at night. Feeling fearful, she stayed hidden in her home with the lights off. When she called the police for help, they questioned her about the absence of blood, to which she replied, "I won't need you when there is blood."
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Displaced Palestinians in Rafah say there is no Women's Day in Gaza. When she managed to escape, she and a friend founded Maison Antigone, a cooperative that has assisted numerous women in dealing with a complex bureaucratic process that can hinder reporting of abuse.
Often women are left to feel responsibility for the abuse, she said.
Her group also helps women work through Italy’s complex family law legal system to protect children as well.
Progress can be difficult to track and may not always be obvious. Following Cecchettin’s tragic murder, the Italian senate unanimously approved a bill to enhance safety measures for women facing risks, seeking restraining orders, or requesting the removal of abusive partners from their homes.
During that time, Family Minister Eugenia Roccella highlighted the significance of this law, stating that it could potentially save lives in critical situations.
Many women feel that changes are not happening quickly enough. Christina, who spoke to CNN, expressed her concern by saying, "My generation needs to educate the next generation. We are still dealing with issues that I thought would have been resolved by my grandparents' time."
With additional reporting from CNN’s Valentina Di Donato.
Editor's P/S:
The article delves into the alarming issue of femicide in Italy, highlighting the tragic loss of over 100 women's lives in
