Helping to Dream Again What Support Do the Orphans of Femicide Need?

Although femicide represents the most extreme manifestation of gender-based violence,
the condition of children orphaned by femicide remains an understudied issue (Baldry,
2017). These special orphans experience dual victimization: they often grow up witnessing
domestic violence and then suffer the traumatic loss of their mother at the hands of their
father or another family member (Baldry, 2017: 44-45). This reality underscores the
urgency of targeted and multidisciplinary intervention to address both past trauma and
future challenges.
In response to these needs, the S.O.S. (Support for Special Orphans) project, funded
through the “A Braccia Aperte” initiative by Con I Bambini, aims to develop a national
program for the timely and integrated care of femicide orphans and their foster families.
Our contribution, as the monitoring group conducted by the Department of Cultures,
Politics, and Society at the University of Turin (Italy), focuses on the North-West
consortium operating in Piedmont, Liguria, and Valle d'Aosta.
This study presents initial findings from a multi-phase monitoring process (2021-2024)
that employed participatory action-research through interviews and focus groups with 19
partners. By September 2024, the project had taken in 25 orphans, with educational grants
addressing four main dimensions: basic needs, recreational activities, psychosocial
support, and educational assistance. The analysis reveals critical challenges in identifying
beneficiaries, communication fragmentation within the network, and the need for
continuous specialized training on issues such as witnessed violence and the
intergenerational transmission of violence (CISMAI, 2017; Bruno, 2022).
The findings emphasize that femicide orphans require personalized and multidimensional
interventions that address educational, psychological, and relational needs, while foster
families need both financial resources and specialized training. The project represents an
important step toward building a more integrated support system capable of responding to
the specific needs of one of the most vulnerable groups in society.