1. Introduction
Violence against women is a pervasive global issue recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a significant public health problem and a violation of human rights. According to the WHO (2021), violence against women manifests in various forms, including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, trafficking, and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation. One of the most extreme and fatal forms of gender-based violence is femicide—the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender.
2. Definition of Femicide
The term femicide was popularized by feminist scholar Diana E.H. Russell, who defined it as “the killing of females by males because they are female” (Russell, 2001). The WHO (2012) describes femicide as the intentional murder of women because they are women, often perpetrated by partners, ex-partners, or relatives. It encompasses not only homicide but also systemic neglect, dowry deaths, honour killings, and murders connected to sexual violence.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2019) categorizes femicide into various forms:
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Intimate partner femicide
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Family-related femicide
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Femicide linked to harmful practices (e.g., dowry, honour)
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Femicide by strangers (e.g., rape-murders, serial killings)
3. Femicide in Context: Global Examples
A. Mauritius
Mauritius has experienced an increasing awareness of gender-based killings, often framed under domestic violence. Although it lacks a specific legal classification for femicide, the Domestic Violence Act (1997, amended 2020) recognizes severe violence against women, including fatal cases. NGOs such as Gender Links and the Ministry of Gender Equality have recorded multiple intimate partner killings. In 2018, the murder of a woman by her ex-partner in Curepipe shocked the nation, prompting public calls for stronger legal protection and early intervention (L'Express, 2018).
B. United Kingdom
The UK does not legally recognize femicide as a separate crime, but data are collected through domestic homicide reviews. According to the Femicide Census (2020), on average, one woman is killed every three days by a man, typically a partner or ex-partner. High-profile cases like the murder of Sarah Everard (2021) by a police officer reignited debates on male violence and institutional failure. The Office for National Statistics (ONS, 2023) shows that over 70% of female homicide victims were killed by someone they knew.
C. United States
In the U.S., femicide is largely documented as part of intimate partner violence (IPV). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 50% of all female homicides in 2017 were IPV-related (Petrosky et al., 2017). Racial disparities are stark—Black and Indigenous women experience higher rates of femicide. The term Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) has become a key advocacy focus, particularly in states like Alaska and Montana.
D. India
India experiences some of the highest rates of gender-related killings globally. Femicide in India often takes the form of:
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Dowry deaths: Despite legal prohibitions, women are still murdered for insufficient dowry payments.
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Honour killings: Perpetrated by family members to punish women for transgressing social norms.The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB, 2022) recorded over 7,000 dowry deaths annually. Femicide is under-reported due to social stigma, victim-blaming, and patriarchal norms.
E. South Africa
South Africa has among the highest femicide rates in the world, with a woman killed every four hours (South African Medical Research Council, 2020). Femicide is often linked to intimate partner violence, gang violence, and sexual assault. The high-profile cases of Uyinene Mrwetyana (2019) and Karabo Mokoena (2017) exposed police apathy and failures of the justice system. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence (GBV) a national crisis, introducing emergency action plans and specialized GBV courts.
F. Palestine
In Palestine, femicide occurs in the context of systemic patriarchal control and limited legal protections for women. Honour killings and domestic violence murders are the most reported forms. Human rights organizations like Al Muntada and Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) documented over 20 gender-related killings in 2021. The absence of clear laws and slow judicial processes contributes to a climate of impunity. Societal silence and stigma further complicate legal recourse for victims' families.
4. Root Causes and Structural Issues
Femicide is deeply rooted in patriarchy, gender inequality, and power imbalances. Cultural norms that normalize violence, lack of legal protections, and failures in policing and judicial systems all contribute to impunity. Key structural drivers include:
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Lack of legal frameworks defining femicide
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Weak law enforcement and victim protection services
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Cultural acceptance of male dominance and control
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Poor data collection and reporting mechanisms
5. WHO and UN Recommendations
The World Health Organization (2021) and UN Women advocate for:
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Recognizing femicide in criminal codes
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Creating national observatories to track and report femicide data
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Strengthening early warning systems and support for at-risk women
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Integrating gender perspectives in police and judicial training
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Mobilizing communities to challenge harmful gender norms
6. Conclusion
Femicide is a deadly consequence of persistent gender-based violence and inequality across the globe. Despite regional differences, a unifying thread is the systematic failure to protect women and girls from preventable deaths. Governments must prioritize legal reforms, robust data systems, education, and survivor-centered approaches. Until structural patriarchy is dismantled, femicide will continue to claim lives with tragic regularity.
References
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WHO. (2012). Understanding and addressing violence against women: Femicide. World Health Organization.
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WHO. (2021). Violence against women prevalence estimates. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022256
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UNODC. (2019). Global Study on Homicide: Gender-related killing of women and girls. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
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Femicide Census. (2020). Annual Report on UK Femicide. https://www.femicidecensus.org
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Petrosky, E., et al. (2017). Racial and ethnic differences in homicides of adult women and the role of intimate partner violence — United States, 2003–2014. MMWR, 66(28), 741–746.
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NCRB. (2022). Crime in India. National Crime Records Bureau.
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South African Medical Research Council. (2020). Research Brief on Femicide.
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WCLAC. (2021). Femicide in the Palestinian Territories. Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling.
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L’Express (2018). “Violence conjugale: Elle est tuée par son compagnon.” L'Express Maurice.
