The reports of femicide remain an ongoing occurrence all over the world as women continue to lose their lives because of their gender. These women are mostly targeted by their own families and partners and we are left to wonder if women will one day see a respite from this issue.
In May, cases of murder-suicide were most common in our findings with fathers and husbands killing themselves together with their daughters and wives.
Femicide cases are grossly undocumented and our monthly report serves as a vital data repository, shedding light on the extent of this societal issue. It underscores the urgency for comprehensive measures to combat this pervasive problem, pushing for increased awareness, intervention, and support for victims.
Our figures are obtained from meticulous Google searches with targeted keywords to gather verified information from news outlets, human rights groups, and trusted media. The numbers in no way represent the total reported cases of femicides or cases of femicide worldwide but serve as a representation of the grim realities women face and also constantly create awareness on the issues of femicide. So, therefore, the numbers within our report serve as stark statistics and a call to action for a world that must unite to protect its most vulnerable members.
Based on our findings this month, we uncovered a staggering total of 133 cases of femicide in 18 countries. The United States took the lead with 60 cases followed by India with 44. Intimate partner violence remained the dominant form of gender-based violence with a percentage of 57.1 per cent of affected women aged 18 to 70. Domestic violence and non-intimate partner violence affected women/girls as young as 2 years old to as old as 75 years old.
The question remains: When do women cease being victims of gender-based violence, regardless of age? Can they find justice even in the grave? Why do their perpetrators roam freely, unaccountable for their heinous actions even when evidence has been presented?
Ingrained patriarchal norms and inequality contribute to the increasing rates of femicide worldwide. The United Nations grimly acknowledges that we are far from achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 5) (on female equality and empowerment) as we approach the halfway mark in the race to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2018, one in every seven women (13 per cent of women aged 15 to 49) reported experiencing physical and sexual violence from an intimate partner or husband in the preceding 12 months.
In Nigeria, there was an uproar when a woman was killed by her Chinese boss because she rejected his sexual advances. This incident also brought to light how weak labour laws in the country can impact women and make them victims of femicide. This troubling pattern continues across the globe from Kenya to South Africa to the United Kingdom, to Australia, to Canada to Pakistan where pregnant women are killed by their partners, daughters are killed by their fathers, mothers are killed by their sons, and children and family members are casualties of femicide with a total of 11 children and 13 family members died alongside these women.
We must continue to speak up against femicide and ensure that our outrage translates to actions and implementation of policies that promote the safety of women all over the world.
