That's amore?: Intimate partner femicide in Italy and the failures of the Italian legislature to prevent violence against women

Intimate partner femicide has caused growing concern in Italy, as instances continue to occur frequently. The Italian legislature has a long history of legislation that failed to protect women from violence, especially within their family units. Despite significant improvements to legislation over the last few decades, the problem of intimate partner femicide persists. This Note focuses on the failures of the penal code and accompanying statutes in preventing intimate partner femicide. The proposal is for legislation that will impose higher sentences for intimate partner homicide, remove judicial discretion in sentencing procedures, and require anti-violence and gender equality education in schools. Giulia Tramontano was a 29 year old pregnant woman who was murdered by her boyfriend in Italy. A recent study has noted that 82% of murders of women in Italy are committed by their current or former partners. 2022 saw over 60 intimate partner femicides, while in 2023 61 women were victims of intimate partner femicide in Italy. In 2019, the "Red Code" was introduced by the Italian legislature in an effort to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence and intimate partner homicide. Modifications were enacted by the Italian Parliament in late 2023 to attempt to fill gaps in previous domestic violence legislation.