The intentional killing of women and girls is now its own crime in Italy.  

Lawmakers unanimously backed a bill making femicide a specific crime punishable by life imprisonment.  

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the measure a tool to "defend the freedom and dignity of every woman". 

Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking it looks very much like a symbolic gesture. 

She says she’s not sure how you would prove the murder of someone is related to their gender, as opposed to some other factor.  

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