ROME – The killing of a university student and the arrest of her ex-boyfriend have highlighted the issue of violence against women in Italy, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowing to step up protections and raise public awareness.
The body of Ms Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old from a small town near Venice, was found on Saturday dumped near a lake, with multiple stab wounds. She had been missing for a week after going out with her former partner Filippo Turetta.
Ms Cecchettin’s sister said the couple had broken up but had gone shopping together to buy a dress for her Nov 16 graduation ceremony before they disappeared. Turetta was arrested on a motorway in eastern Germany in a broken-down car late on Saturday, and is awaiting extradition.
German police in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt said he is wanted in Italy and has been held in custody.
Prosecutors in Venice have named Turetta as their sole suspect, and his defence lawyer has told Italian media that Turetta will not oppose his extradition.
The case has dominated Italian media and politics. “We all hoped in recent days that Giulia was alive. Unfortunately, our greatest fears have come true,” Ms Meloni wrote on social platform X, formerly Twitter.
“Every single woman killed because she is ‘guilty’ of being free is an aberration that cannot be tolerated and that pushes me to continue on the path taken to stop this barbarism,” added Ms Meloni, Italy’s first woman prime minister.
She said Italy’s upper house was due to start voting on Wednesday on a bill that expands protection measures for women at risk, and announced a public awareness campaign against femicides.
Demonstrations are expected in Rome and other Italian cities on Saturday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
As of Nov 12, 102 women have been killed this year in Italy, including 53 by their partner or former partner, according to interior ministry figures. This compares with 51 killed by their partner or ex in the same period of 2022, and around 70 in both 2021 and 2020.
Italy’s main opposition Democratic Party also has a woman leader, Elly Schlein, who has called for bipartisan efforts against violence against women.
In particular, Ms Schlein has proposed a law introducing lessons on respect and person relations in all schools, in order “to eradicate the toxic patriarchal culture of possession and control over women’s bodies and lives”. REUTERS
News Related
-
-
-
Freed Israeli hostage describes deteriorating conditions while being held by Hamas An Israeli hostage freed by Hamas has said in an interview that she was initially fed well in captivity until conditions worsened and captives became hungry ByTIA GOLDENBERG Associated Press November 28, 2023, 1:04 AM Ruth Munder, a released ...
See Details:
Freed Israeli hostage describes deteriorating conditions while being held by Hamas
-
High stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host In a high-profile showdown, Rome, Busan, and Riyadh are the top contenders to host the next World Expo, in 2030, as the organizing body prepares to vote on Tuesday in Paris ByTHOMAS ADAMSON Associated Press ...
See Details:
High stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host
-
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has made a frank admission, conceding borrowers are “very unhappy” with the central bank, but are coping with higher interest rates. Speaking at a central bank conference in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Ms Bullock said the RBA’s punishing 13 rate hikes had generated considerable “noise” ...
See Details:
RBA boss Michele Bullock concedes borrowers ‘very unhappy’ with rate hikes
-
A devastating bushfire that wreaked havoc on homes and business has sparked fears scammers might exploit fake fundraisers, as the long road to rebuilding gets underway. Families slowly started returning to their homes in Mariginiup, on Perth’s northern fringe, this week after a bushfire destroyed 18 homes and businesses. Consumer ...
See Details:
Australians on alert for scammers after bushfire destroys 18 homes, businesses
-
-
A couple in their 70s have been terrorised in a violent home invasion by four men armed with a gun and baseball bats. Police say the men smashed a glass sliding door to gain access to the Beerwah residence, north of Brisbane, after 11.30pm on Monday, before entering the bedroom. ...
See Details:
Armed gang terrorise couple in violent home invasion
-
A couple in their 70s have been terrorised in a violent home invasion by four men armed with a gun and baseball bats. Police say the men smashed a glass sliding door to gain access to the Beerwah residence, north of Brisbane, after 11.30pm on Monday, before entering the bedroom. ...
See Details:
LeBron James takes NBA all-time minutes lead in career-worst loss
-
A couple in their 70s have been terrorised in a violent home invasion by four men armed with a gun and baseball bats. Police say the men smashed a glass sliding door to gain access to the Beerwah residence, north of Brisbane, after 11.30pm on Monday, before entering the bedroom. ...
See Details:
Vikings' Kevin O'Connell to evaluate Josh Dobbs, path forward at QB
-
-
-
A couple in their 70s have been terrorised in a violent home invasion by four men armed with a gun and baseball bats. Police say the men smashed a glass sliding door to gain access to the Beerwah residence, north of Brisbane, after 11.30pm on Monday, before entering the bedroom. ...
See Details:
North Korea cites rare dissent in elections even as 99% back candidates
-
A couple in their 70s have been terrorised in a violent home invasion by four men armed with a gun and baseball bats. Police say the men smashed a glass sliding door to gain access to the Beerwah residence, north of Brisbane, after 11.30pm on Monday, before entering the bedroom. ...
See Details:
Faulty pipe caused water leakage and ‘very bad odour’ at Jem mall
OTHER NEWS
KUALA LUMPUR – A 34-year-old man has been detained for threatening Malaysia’s Prime Minister via social media. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the man was detained on ...
Read more »
A member of a pig hunting group that was in remote Queensland when Jeremiah Rivers went missing has denied trafficking cannabis, in testimony given by video as there is a ...
Read more »
Christmas is a time for giving, and for Peter Dutton that means sharing one of life's most excruciating pains. The opposition leader is donating some of his much-loved Lego to ...
Read more »
A department investigator accused two of the officers of “conduct unbecoming an officer” for entering the apartment without a warrant, but the third officer was cleared of wrongdoing, the suit says.
Read more »
Heidi Klum posted a rare picture with husband Tom Kaulitz and her four kids: Leni, 19, Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and Lou, 14, having some quality family time.
Read more »
This is CNBC’s live blog covering European markets. European markets are heading for a flat open Tuesday, continuing lackluster sentiment seen at the start of the week in the region ...
Read more »
The deal seemed on the verge of unravelling. Hamas had accused Israel of failing to keep its side of the bargain and Israel was threatening to resume its lethal onslaught ...
Read more »