A  UN report from UNODC and UN Women, released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, warns that femicide is on the rise worldwide.

Femicide is the most violent and extreme form of violence against women – it is different to homicide due to the fact that the motivation behind these murders is gender and gender roles. 

Femicide is fueled by discrimination, unequal power dynamics, entrenched gender stereotypes, and harmful social norms targeting women and girls.

Despite rising awareness and public outrage over these killings, far more action is needed to prevent violence against women, halt its escalation, and ensure survivors have access to proper support and services.

In 2023, 85,000 women and girls were murdered across the world – 60% of these murderers were close family relations.

This means every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is murdered by an intimate partner or family member. 

One UK femicide census found that more mums are murdered by their own sons – than a stranger. Since 2009, 170 mothers have been murdered by their sons.

The study reported that most female victims had been killed by a partner (27) or spouse (24), or former partner (10) or former spouse (1).

The next most common category of violence included women killed by sons (12) or fathers (1).

In Northern Ireland, 98% of women have experienced some form of abuse or physical violence, as twenty-eight women and a girl have been violently killed in Northern Ireland since 2020 – with gender being the main motive. 

The femicide census found that in 2022, at least 40% of women killed by a current/former partner had left or were taking steps to leave him, and a sharp instrument, such as a knife, was used in the killing of 65 women (53%). 

It is certain to say that femicide is on the rise globally, and more must be done to tackle this catastrophic issue. 

We must teach young people about gender equality, consent, respect, stereotypes, toxic masculinity, and power dynamics, through implementing anti-violence curricula in schools. 

It is crucial to encourage critical thinking about social norms that devalue women and girls.