Naples – A new study on orphans of femicide has revealed gaps in the support provided to those affected. In 53 of 110 cases for which data was available, the children and young adults had not received any clinical support prior to their admission to the Respiro assistance program. The findings were presented on Friday, October 30, in Naples.
The survey also distinguishes between the degrees to which those affected were directly exposed to the killing: 25 percent witnessed the crime firsthand. Another 32 percent were in the house, though they were not necessarily direct witnesses. More than half were younger than nine years old at the time of the crime.
In many cases, the children had already experienced traumatic events. For 103 of the 124 affected children included in the study, at least one form of violence or a traumatic event was documented. This also included experiences such as bereavement or moving; therefore, the figure does not refer exclusively to experiences of violence.
Orphans of Femicide: Data from Six Regions
The study includes 124 affected children from 78 families supported by Respiro in Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Apulia, Sardinia, and Sicily. It is based on the cases supported by the project and does not constitute a comprehensive survey of all affected children in Italy. Data were not available for all participants on every question.
Respiro coordinates social, psychological, and legal support for children who have lost a parent to a homicide. The program is run by the social cooperative Irene ’95 in partnership with organizations such as Save the Children and Terre des Hommes. At the event marking its fifth anniversary, the focus was not only on statistics but also on practical support for professionals and family members.
