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

Abstract

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 reaction to those necessities 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, psycho-social 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.