Femicide (or feminicide, as it is referred to in some contexts) is defined as an intentional killing with a gender-related motivation. It is different from homicide, where the motivation may not be gender-related.
UN Women has taken a leadership role in tackling the gender-related killings of women and girls (also referred to as femicide or feminicide) through legal frameworks, policy development, and data collection in collaboration with UNODC and regional partners.
Specific examples of UN Women's work include:
In 2024, UNFPA co-hosted a global expert group meeting on femicide alongside UN Women and UNODC, with support from the Centre of Excellence for CRVS and kNOwVAWdata. This meeting brought together experts, activists, and victims' families to address critical issues surrounding femicide. Key topics included:
In Southern Africa and South America, two regional consultations on femicide reviews gathered experts to explore the application of multi-stakeholder in-depth review methodologies. UNODC also briefed 40 judges from 19 European countries during a study visit, enhancing their understanding of femicide review practices and improving efforts to address violence against women and girls.
Spotlight Initiative has played a critical role in addressing femicide, with a strong emphasis on Latin America, where the issue is both highly prevalent and deeply institutionalized. The region has some of the highest femicide rates in the world, making it a thematic focus of the Latin America Regional Programme and national programmes in Mexico, Ecuador, Honduras, and El Salvador.
OHCHR offers technical assistance to strengthen national legal and policy frameworks by aligning them with international human rights standards. Support includes guidance on translating human rights mechanisms’ recommendations in concrete laws and policies, in building institutional capacities and ensuring multidisciplinary systems are in place to address the root causes and risk factors for femicide, including domestic violence.