The practice of protecting women's social rights: The experience of Italy

The article examines the history and evolution of Italian legislation aimed at ensuring equal rights for women and men, starting from 1902, when the first law was passed limiting the working hours of women and children and establishing mandatory maternity leave after childbirth. The article aims to review key cases brought before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) regarding Italy’s violations of women’s social rights. These cases demonstrate that even with a developed legal framework, the Italian legal system often fails to provide effective protection for women’s rights, leading to the intervention of the ECtHR to restore justice. The article analyzes Italy’s progress in ensuring the protection of women’s rights at the legislative level and guaranteeing equal social rights for women and men. It highlights that in recent decades, efforts have been made in the country to reduce the gender gap in the labor market and strengthen legislation against violence, including domestic violence against women. The article aims to assess the effectiveness of legislative and practical measures taken by the Italian authorities, analyze the impact of ECtHR case law on national legislation, and identify key challenges in the realization of women’s social rights in Italy.