FEMICIDE

Femicide (if you have never heard of it before) refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender, often involving domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or other forms of gender based violence.

It's a severe and pervasive issue that reflects deep rooted gender inequalities, discrimination, and patriarchal attitudes prevalent in many societies around the world.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲?

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲.............

This involves the killing of women by their current or former intimate partners.

It often occurs within the context of domestic violence or abusive relationships, where power and control dynamics contribute to escalated violence and lethal outcomes.

𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲.................

Family related femicides involve the killing of women by family members, such as parents, siblings, or extended family, often motivated by factors such as honour, shame, or perceived violations of family norms and values.

𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲..................

Sexual femicide refers to the killing of women as a result of sexual violence or as a means to exert control, dominance, or punishment.

It includes crimes such as rape, murder or serial killings targeting women based on their gender.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲...............

In some cultures, dowry related femicides occur when women are killed by their families or inlaws for perceived inadequate dowry payments or disputes over dowry agreements.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀?

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Femicide is rooted in systemic gender inequalities, discrimination, and harmful gender norms that devalue and subordinate women and girls, perpetuating a culture of male entitlement and female subordination.

𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘀...... Patriarchal attitudes that prioritise male authority and control over women's bodies, lives, and choices contribute to the normalisation and acceptance of violence against women as a means of maintaining power and dominance.

𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀...........

Cultural practices, traditions, and societal norms that condone or tolerate violence against women, such as honour killings or bride burning (yes, this is actually a thing), create a permissive environment for femicides to occur.

𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Inadequate legal frameworks, weak enforcement of laws, and lack of access to justice and support services for victims of gender based violence contribute to impunity and perpetuate cycles of abuse and violence.

𝗦𝗼, 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲?

𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲............

The most devastating consequence of femicide is the loss of life, resulting in profound grief, trauma, and emotional suffering for the victim's loved ones and communities.

𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 Femicide leaves lasting psychological scars on survivors, witnesses, and communities, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health issues.

𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Femicide disrupts social cohesion and stability, undermining trust in institutions, eroding community bonds, and perpetuating cycles of violence and fear.

𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀...........

Femicide constitutes a grave violation of women's and girls' human rights, including their right to life, dignity, and security, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive legal reforms, policy initiatives, and societal interventions to address and prevent femicides.

So, as you can see, femicide is a devastating manifestation of gender based violence that demands urgent attention, action, and accountability from all sectors of society to eradicate this heinous crime, protect women's and girls' rights, and create a world where everyone can live free from violence and fear.

Taken from our online Domestic Violence Distance Learning Course.