Vigonovo, Italy – The killing of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin, allegedly at the hands of her possessive ex-boyfriend, has sparked outrage and grief across Italy and sparked a national conversation about violence against women. The young woman vanished days before she was set to graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering, after going to buy her graduation outfit with her ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta. CCTV footage later showed the final moments of her life, as Turetta was seen beating her in a car park before forcing her into his car.

Following a week-long search, Cecchettin’s body was discovered at the bottom of a ditch, wrapped in black plastic bags, showing signs of a brutal murder with at least 20 deep stab wounds to her head and neck. Turetta was later arrested near Leipzig, Germany, and is awaiting extradition to Italy. The outcry over Cecchettin’s killing has led to protests and vigils across Italy, with many women speaking out about entrenched patriarchal attitudes and an increase in reports of violence against women in the country.

Elisa Ercoli, director of the non-government organization Differenza Donna, emphasized that the killing of Cecchettin was the tipping point following a series of high-profile cases of femicides, stating that a woman is killed every three days in Italy. Both Cecchettin and Turetta studied biomedical engineering and had met at university, but Cecchettin broke up with him in August, citing his possessiveness as a concern.

Italy’s first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has voiced outrage at the country’s long history of violence against women by partners and ex-partners, promising an educational campaign in schools to combat misogynistic violence. The Italian Senate has unanimously approved new legislation to strengthen measures against gender violence, including stricter restraining orders and heightened surveillance on perpetrators. Critics, however, argue that the government has not done enough to address the entrenched problem of gender-based violence in the country.

In the wake of Cecchettin’s tragic death, her sister spoke out, urging men in the patriarchal society to call out friends and colleagues who engage in controlling or misogynistic behavior. Italian women have shared her message, rejecting silence and advocating for society to confront and address the issue. The death of Cecchettin, marked by numerous protests and demonstrations, has highlighted the urgent need for changes in Italian society to combat gender-based violence.