Italy records a big increase in femicides over the past year

The number of femicides in Italy has risen by almost 16% over the past year, with the vast majority taking place in a family context.

Data published by the interior ministry on Monday showed 125 femicides between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022, compared with 108 during the same period in the previous year.

The data shows a woman is killed on average every three days in Italy.

Based on 2018 data, a report published last November by the European Institute for Gender Equality placed Italy ninth out of 15 EU countries for the number of murders of women by partners or former partners and 10th for femicides committed by relatives.