Through both social media and interviews, Elena Cecchettin has linked her sister’s killing to the normalisation of toxic male behaviour, characterising those who commit femicides as the “children” of patriarchy and rape culture.

She also appeared to push back against the government’s request for schools to hold a minute of silence for her sister, calling instead for widespread sexual and emotional education and the financing of anti-violence centres.

The discovery of Cecchettin’s body also prompted comment from the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, whose party was among those who abstained earlier this year as the EU voted to ratify a landmark international treaty aimed at preventing violence against women.

“Every single woman killed because she is ‘guilty’ of being free is an aberration that cannot be tolerated and that pushes me to continue on the path taken to stop this barbarity,” added Meloni, who last year became the country’s first female prime minister.

“In Italy we need to put an end to journalism that still emphasises the point of view of the murderer, explaining what motivated him to kill a woman,” said Menecali.

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