National Press

The article addresses the issue of gender-based violence and femicide, analysing its cultural and psychological roots and challenging the narrative that portrays perpetrators as “respectable” and seemingly unsuspected men. Drawing from the book Sulla pelle e nel cuore, Vittoriana Abate and lawyer Cataldo Calabretta recount the stories of women who became victims of current or former partners unable to accept rejection and the end of a relationship, often preceded by patterns of control, stalking and psychological abuse.

The contribution highlights how femicide is frequently the final outcome of a long escalation of abuse, deeply rooted in a culture of possession, domination and coercion that cuts across all social classes. The phenomenon is also examined from a legal and criminological perspective, with the aim of identifying risk factors and fostering greater awareness.

Alongside these reflections, the text underscores the importance of prevention, the courage to report abuse, and the need for profound cultural change involving institutions, the justice system and civil society. Giving a voice to survivors and understanding the mechanisms that lead to violence thus become essential tools in addressing an emergency that concerns us all.