Femicide

Femicide is generally understood to involve intentional murder of women because they are women, but broader definitions include any killings of women or girls. According to the World Health Organization, Femicide is usually perpetrated by men, but sometimes female family members may be involved. Femicide differs from male homicide in specific ways. For example, most cases of femicide are committed by partners or ex-partners, and involve ongoing abuse in the home, threats or intimidation, sexual violence or situations where women have less power or fewer resources than their partner.

In the United Kingdom, over the last ten years on average two women are week are killed by their male partners or former partners. Frequently these murders have been premeditated and follow a pattern of violence and abuse that terrorise the victim.

Types of femicide are identified as: Intimate femicide; Murders in the name of ‘honour’; Dowry-related femicide; and Non-intimate femicide

Since 2016 in the UK a Femicide Census has been published. The Femicide Census is a database containing information on over one thousand women killed by men in England and Wales since 2009. It is a ground-breaking project which aims to provide a clearer picture of men’s fatal violence against women by allowing for detailed tracking and analysis. A copy of the 2017 census can be found at The Femicide Census: 2017 findings

If you think you, or somebody you know, is experiencing, or is at risk of, any of these forms of abuse please go to the ‘Support and Advice section’.