The Lower House on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill on the crime of femicide which becomes law.

The bill changes Italy’s criminal law and punishes with life imprisonment anyone who causes the death of a woman “with acts of discrimination or hatred towards the victim because she is a woman, or if the criminal act is aimed at repressing the exercise of the rights, freedoms or personality of the woman”.

The bill also sets new conditions for prison incentives and privileges for femicide convicts and strengthens obligations for educational and awareness initiatives to combat gender-based violence.

The bill was passed into law on the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

Italy has suffered a spate of shocking femicide cases in recent years.