109 women murdered in Italy so far in 2023 - study

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 11 - As of December 3, 109 women had been murdered in Italy in 2023, of whom 90 within the family or relationship sphere and 58 by their sentimental partner or ex, according to a report by the criminal police presented on Monday.
    In the first nine months of the year the number of female victims of homicides committed in Italy - 89 out of a total of 254 up to September 30 - increased by 5% over the same period in 2022, the report added.
    In the same period, in 65% of cases of femicide committed within the family or relationship sphere the victim was killed by her partner or ex, up from 59% in the first nine months of 2022.
    In addition, from January to September 2023, the number of cautions issued by police for domestic violence increased by 33% and for stalking by 17%.
    Conversely, the number of emergency removal orders fell by 17%.
    The report also highlighted a drop in reports of so-called tell-tale crimes such as stalking (-13%), domestic violence (-12%) and sexual violence (-12%).
    In the two year period 2021-2022 90% of victims of sexual violence were women and the figure is confirmed in the first nine months of 2023.
    The issue of gender based violence including femicide returned to the fore in Italy in November with the brutal murder of 22-year-old student Giulia Cecchettin by her ex boyfriend Filippo Turetta, 21. (ANSA).