A total of 964 men have been reported to authorities for various forms of abuse and violence against women in Naples and its province from January to August 2024. This according to figures released by the Carabinieri police on Saturday.
In that period, Carabinieri officers in Naples province made 267 arrests of men caught in the act of committing abuse and violence. A further 697 others were reported to the authorities. On average, the authorities recorded four cases of gender-based violence each day, equating to 120 cases every month.
Prosecutors in Naples, Northern Naples, Torre Annunziata, and Nola examined these cases. The Carabinieri police credited a new law, passed in December 2023, for enabling them to detain 10 suspects based on evidence provided by victims. This evidence included videos, photos, cell phone messages, and GPS data collected within 48 hours of the incident.
To further support victims, the Carabinieri have set up four dedicated spaces in the province of Naples. There women can report abuse. These spaces are located in the Capodimonte and Stella districts of Naples, and in Caivano and Ercolano.
Additionally, a dedicated app called “Bright Sky” allows women to request help from the Carabinieri using their smartphones or smartwatches. According to police, this app has helped many potential victims and acted as a deterrent to would-be offenders.
Human rights experts have criticised Italy’s record of gender-based abuse and violence.
