Istat

Violence against women: 3 million Italian women were victims of abuse before the age of 16

Sexual violence takes various forms: the most common is unwanted physical contact with the genitals

16 September 2026

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Whilst the story of Giulia Cecchettin is set to be made into a film, and whilst there is a proposal from the Italian political sphere to abolish the offence of femicide, Istat has today published its report ‘Violence against women from childhood to adulthood’. And the figures are far from reassuring.

Survey methodology

Now in its third edition, the report focused on violence experienced by women before the age of 16. Conducted between March 2025 and January 2026, the study states that it used a ‘harmonised methodology’ with the European Survey on Gender-Based Violence ‘Childhood violence and its lifelong impact’, carried out by Eurostat (the statistical office of the European Union) between 2021 and 2024 and adopted as a benchmark. The age range of the sample analysed was between 16 and 75 years.

The research begins by examining figures relating to incidents of abuse suffered before the age of 16, before analysing their link to violence experienced in adulthood. Particular attention is also paid to the role of witnessing violence, which is considered a ‘risk factor for exposure to other forms of violence’. Furthermore, the 2026 edition examines physical abuse suffered ‘at the hands of any perpetrator and certain forms of psychological violence, such as humiliation by parents’, Istat points out.

The figures that have emerged

15.3 per cent of Italian women – approximately 3 million people – report having experienced at least one form of physical or sexual violence before the age of 16. The European figure stands at 11.4 per cent, which equates to over 244,000 women. Specifically, just under 1.65 million Italian women (8.2 per cent) have been victims of sexual violence.

Here too, the European figure is lower: 3.4 per cent, or almost 73,000 people. Compared with the previous Istat survey, however, the rate of child sexual abuse in Italy has fallen from 10.6 per cent to 7.8 per cent, limiting the comparison to the 16–70 age group examined in 2014.

Sexual violence takes various forms: the most common is unwanted physical contact with the genital area, reported by 7.2 per cent of Italian women and 2.8 per cent of foreign women.

In terms of age, girls aged between 11 and 16 are the most affected: 54 per cent of Italian girls and just over 69 per cent of foreign girls. However, a significant proportion of Italian girls report that their first episode occurred before the age of 11, and 8.2 per cent even before the age of 6.

The perpetrators and the relational context of child abuse

Fathers or stepfathers are responsible for 27.3 per cent of cases of physical violence against Italian girls under the age of 16. These incidents tend to recur more frequently over time and are regarded by 80 per cent of the victims as ‘very serious’.

Relatives, friends, schoolmates and acquaintances are also among those responsible for sexual violence or coercion into sexual relations. Almost 23 per cent of Italian women report having been touched by a stranger.

Women also commit physical violence, though to a lesser extent. Mothers or stepmothers are the figures most frequently cited as the perpetrators; they are followed by friends and schoolmates.

Witnessed violence and the wall of silence

Many women report having witnessed verbal or physical abuse within their immediate family during their childhood. This is a significant risk factor, drastically increasing a woman’s vulnerability and the likelihood of her experiencing other forms of violence during adulthood.

In examining reactions to the abuse suffered, the survey reveals a high rate of silence: 58.4 per cent of Italian women and 58.3 per cent of foreign women who were victims of sexual violence before the age of 16 say they did not speak to anyone about it at the time of the incident.

If women do decide to speak out, they do so mainly with family members or relatives (29.9 per cent) and less often with friends, schoolmates or neighbours. Schools and public institutions are rarely seen as places to turn to for help.

Comments from the political world

“These figures confirm the pervasiveness and prevalence of violence against women in our country,” comments Cecilia D’Elia, a PD senator and vice-chair of the Femicide Commission. “ “We must work for everyone: providing resources to help recognise violence, enabling people to talk to someone about it, equipping girls and young women with the tools to defend themselves, but above all building a new framework for relationships based on freedom.”

The M5S female MPs on the bicameral committee of inquiry into femicide and gender-based violence – Stefania Ascari, Anna Bilotti, Alessandra Maiorino and Daniela Morfino – also spoke out on the matter: ‘In the face of all this, it is not enough to keep talking only about law enforcement once the violence has already taken place. Prevention can no longer wait and must begin in childhood. Sex and emotional education in schools means teaching respect, consent and equality. It means teaching young people to recognise violent behaviour and giving them the tools to ask for help. Let’s introduce it straight away. If we want to break the cycle of violence, we must have the courage to intervene before it is too late. Schools are one of the places where this prevention must necessarily begin.”