Italy directly spends an estimated €2.3 billion on social services related to violence against women, while more than €14 billion can be attributed to other costs, according to Intervita development figures quoted by ANSA.
In 2012 Italian authorities invested €6.3 million in prevention measures, ANSA said. The same year 124 women were murdered, according to the national statistics agency Istat.
There were a number of high-profile attacks against women and girls in 2013, such as a schoolgirl who was allegedly burnt alive by her boyfriend and a series of acid attacks against women.
The high rate of violence against women has been attributed by some experts as a problem of Italian culture, with attacks on women accepted as a societal norm.
SEE ALSO: 'Violence against women is a cultural problem'
Last summer, however, the Italian government made moves to tackle the issue, appointing a special advisor and introducing a bill which aimed to give greater protection to women.
READ MORE: Italy cracks down on violence against women
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