Italy Faces Rising Femicide Crisis as Critics Urge PM Giorgia Meloni to Take Stronger Action

Italy is confronting a growing femicide crisis, with critics saying Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has not done enough to curb gender-based violence. The latest victim, 29-year-old entrepreneur and influencer Pamela Genini, was fatally stabbed by her 52-year-old ex-boyfriend in Milan, marking the 72nd femicide in Italy in 2025.

Genini, a successful real estate agent and swimwear entrepreneur, was discovered dead on her balcony in mid-October. Her ex-boyfriend, Gianluca Soncin, is in solitary confinement awaiting formal charges including voluntary homicide, stalking, and premeditation.

The statistics reveal a troubling pattern. According to Non Una Di Meno, an observatory group tracking femicides, four more women have been killed since Genini, and six additional cases are being investigated as potential femicides. In 2024, Italy recorded 116 femicide cases, a slight decrease from previous years.

Critics have questioned whether Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister, has implemented sufficient preventative measures since taking office three years ago. While her government has passed anti-stalking laws and made domestic violence an aggravating factor in sentencing, some argue more proactive measures are needed.

Concerns have also been raised about the government’s recent decision to uphold the ban on sex education in schools, which experts say is key to educating young people about consent and domestic violence. Meloni, who renamed the Ministry for Equal Opportunity to the Ministry for the Family, Birth Rate and Equal Opportunities, has defended the policy as a safeguard against “woke gender theory.”

The issue extends beyond violence. Italy continues to struggle with persistent gender inequality, with women earning up to 40% less than men in similar roles, and birth rates dropping by 6.3% in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

With femicide rates remaining high, activists are calling for stronger prevention strategies, better education, and cultural change to protect women and reduce gender-based violence in Italy.