Key Facts

• A woman named Audrey Ubeda accused her Italian partner of repeated rape and abuse.
• An Italian prosecutor described the rape allegations as normal male behavior and downplayed the violence.
• The prosecutor called a knife incident “a bad joke” and said physical violence to the children was just discipline.
• The initial prosecutor’s response led to further victimization and violated human rights rules on treating domestic abuse victims.
• The accused man was later sentenced to four and a half years in prison, but he is free during his appeal.
• The European Court of Human Rights ordered Italy to pay about €60,000 to Ubeda and her children.
• The court ruled Italy did not act quickly or properly to protect the victims, including failing to grant their shelter and housing requests.
• Ubeda said the ruling was a victory for all women and expressed shock that the prosecutor was a woman.