Full History Of Femicide In Timeline From 1900

1900: Average Days for a Femicide Case to Conclude

It takes an average of 1900 days for a femicide case to be concluded and the suspect sentenced, not encompassing appeals that might lengthen the process even further.

1976: Diana Russell Publicizes the Term Femicide

In 1976, Diana Russell publicized the term 'femicide' at the International Tribunal on Crimes against Women in Belgium. Russell initially defined femicide as the hate killing of females by males, then redefining it later as the killing of females by males because they are female.

1982: Reports of Female Infanticide in China

In late 1982, the Chinese press first indicated that female infanticide was being practiced as the final option to circumvent the one-child policy.

1986: Amnesty International estimates female homicides in Mexico

Between 1986 and 2009, Amnesty International estimates approximately 34,000 female homicides occurred in Mexico, highlighting the severity of violence against women.

1989: École Polytechnique massacre

In 1989, the École Polytechnique massacre occurred in Canada, resulting in the deaths of fourteen women and injuries to ten women and four men. This antifeminist mass shooting is a prominent instance of femicide.

1990: Dowry-related Deaths of Women in India

Between 1990 and 2009, the reported number of dowry-related deaths of women in India almost doubled from 4,836 to 8,383.

1990: Female Homicides in Africa

Between 1990 and 2021, the number of female homicides in Africa rose from 12,570 to 19,769, though the age-standardized death rate decreased from 4.58 to 3.34 per 100,000 women, remaining nearly double the global average of 1.76 per 100,000 in 2021.

1994: Inter-American Convention on the Prevention and the Eradication of Violence against Women

In 1994, the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention and the Eradication of Violence against Women expressed that gender violence is the state's responsibility, influencing the development of new laws in Latin America to label the murders of women as femicide or feminicide.

1995: Femicide statistics reported by Women NGO

Statistics of femicide in Italy are reported yearly (1995–2019) by the independent Women NGO.

1997: Enactment of Legislations to Protect Women

In South Korea, two legislations that protected women were enacted for the first time in 1997. Namely, "Special Action Punishment of Domestic Violence Crimes" and the "Act on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims".

2000: UNFPA Report on Honor Killings

According to a 2000 report by the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), approximately 5,000 women are murdered each year in honor killings.

2000: Murders of Guatemalan women and girls

Between 2000 and 2010, more than five thousand Guatemalan women and girls were murdered.

2000: High impunity rate for femicide cases

From 2000 to 2008, 98 percent of all femicide cases in Guatemala remained in impunity, highlighting a significant issue with the enforcement and justice for femicide cases.

2002: Highest rate of female homicides in Chihuahua

During the years 2002–2010, the state of Chihuahua had the highest rate of female homicides in the world at 58.4 per 100,000, highlighting a period of extreme violence against women in the region.

2003: Custom and honor killings in Turkey

Between 2003 and 2007, 1,028 custom and honor killings were committed in Turkey according to the Report on Custom and Honor Killings by the country's General Directorate of Security.

2003: Introduction of Femicide to Mexican Legislature

In 2003, Julia E. Monárrez Fragoso introduced the concept of femicide and Lagarde moved the term forward by introducing it into Mexican legislature.

2006: Murders of Elderly Women in Israel

A 2020 examination from media and internet sources of every single murder of an elderly woman in Israel committed between 2006 and 2015 revealed that all the cases of female geronticide were intimate partner femicides, and perpetrated in the domestic arena.

2007: Honor killings predominantly in Southeastern Turkey

According to data from the General Directorate of Security covering killings in Turkey until 2007, honor killings predominantly happen in the Southeastern part of the country, with a significant percentage of murderers born in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia.

2007: Report on Custom and Honor Killings

Between 2003 and 2007, 1,028 custom and honor killings were committed in Turkey according to the Report on Custom and Honor Killings by the country's General Directorate of Security.

2008: Decree 22: Laws Against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence Against Women passed

In 2008, lawmakers in Guatemala passed Decree 22, also known as the Laws Against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence Against Women. This legislation included 28 articles detailing prosecutable forms of violence against women. It also led to the creation of the Office of the Presidential Commission Against Femicide and an anti-femicide unit within the National Police.

2009: Amnesty International estimates female homicides in Mexico

Between 1986 and 2009, Amnesty International estimates approximately 34,000 female homicides occurred in Mexico, highlighting the severity of violence against women.

2009: Dowry-related Deaths of Women in India

Between 1990 and 2009, the reported number of dowry-related deaths of women in India almost doubled from 4,836 to 8,383.

2009: Kurdish family imprisoned for honor killing

In 2009, an entire Kurdish family was sent to prison for life in Turkey, because they were involved in the honor killing of their daughter, who got pregnant after being raped.

2009: Detailed data on femicides in the UK

In the UK, The Femicide Census collects data since 2009 to provide detailed comparable data about femicides, including demographic and social factors and the methods men selected to kill women.

June 2010: Death of Mariana Lima Buenida

On June 28, 2010, Mariana Lima Buenida was found dead in her home. Her husband, a police officer, insisted she committed suicide.

2010: Murders of Guatemalan women and girls

Between 2000 and 2010, more than five thousand Guatemalan women and girls were murdered.

2010: Highest rate of female homicides in Chihuahua

During the years 2002–2010, the state of Chihuahua had the highest rate of female homicides in the world at 58.4 per 100,000, highlighting a period of extreme violence against women in the region.

2010: Sex Crimes Against Women

In 2019 32,000 sex crimes against women were reported; that is 12,000 more cases than in 2010.

2010: Increase in reported violence against women

In the first month of 2010, 27,000 women in Guatemala reported violence against them to the state, which represents a substantial increase in the number of reported crimes. However, in 2010, only 127 convictions occurred for female violence even though 46,000 cases overall were registered.

2010: Statistics and structure of femicide in Spain

Statistics and structure of femicide in Spain are reported yearly (2010–2019).

2011: Domestic Violence Cases

Domestic violence cases have reached 50,000 in 2019 compared to 6,800 cases in 2011.

2011: Rate of female deaths in Juarez

In 2011, the rate of female deaths with the presumption of homicides in the municipality of Juárez was 31.49 per 100,000.

November 2012: Rita Banerji Presents on Femicide in India at U.N. Symposium

On November 26, 2012, Rita Banerji, feminist author and founder of The 50 Million Missing Campaign, spoke at a U.N. Symposium on Femicide in Vienna, about the six most widespread forms of femicide in India.

December 2012: Rita Banerji Presents on Femicide in India at U.N. Symposium

On November 26, 2012, Rita Banerji, feminist author and founder of The 50 Million Missing Campaign, spoke at a U.N. Symposium on Femicide in Vienna, about the six most widespread forms of femicide in India.

2012: Law Against Femicide in Mexico

In 2012, Lagarde worked until a law against femicide was created in Mexico.

2012: Mexico ranked 16th in femicide rates

In 2012, Mexico was ranked as the 16th country in the world with the highest rates of femicides, demonstrating the prevalence of violence against women.

2012: Murder of Rosa Elvira Cely

In 2012, Rosa Elvira Cely, a Colombian woman, was raped and murdered. Cely's death sparked national outrage, and caused thousands to march down the streets of Bogotá.

2012: Murder of a Woman by Oh Won-choon in South Korea

In 2012, in South Korea, a man named Oh Won-choon killed a woman while attempting to sexually assault her while she was going home.

2013: COST project "femicide across Europe"

From 2013 to 2017, 30 European countries joined a COST (Cooperation on Science and Technology) project called "femicide across Europe".

2013: COST Action IS-1206 "Femicide across Europe" Setup

In 2013, COST set up Action IS-1206 entitled "Femicide across Europe".

2013: Korean Supreme Court Upheld Country's First Spousal Rape Conviction

In 2013, the Korean Supreme court upheld the country's first spousal rape conviction.

2013: UN General Assembly updates policy on femicide

In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly updated their policy by recognizing that "gender-related killing of women and girls was criminalized in some countries as 'femicide' or 'feminicide', and has been incorporated as such into national legislation in those countries."

2014: Case Study Analyzing Anti-LGBT Violence

In 2014, a case study analyzing anti-LGBT violence suggested that crimes like lesbicide can be explained by hyper-masculinity theories, with escalation of violence occurring when LGBT members are met with "unwanted heterosexual advances".

2014: Stabbing of a Woman in South Korea

In 2014, in South Korea, a woman was stabbed to death by a drunk man while waiting for a bus.

July 2015: Colombia passes law defining and punishing femicide

On July 6, 2015, Colombia passed a law defining and punishing femicide, legally defining femicide as a crime with 20 to 50 years of jail time. This new law is named after Rosa Elvira Cely.

2015: Murders of Elderly Women in Israel

A 2020 examination from media and internet sources of every single murder of an elderly woman in Israel committed between 2006 and 2015 revealed that all the cases of female geronticide were intimate partner femicides, and perpetrated in the domestic arena.

2015: Slight increase in the number of women murdered in Europe

From 2013 to 2015, the number of women murdered in Europe, not necessarily at the hands of a partner or family member, remained constant, with a slight increase.

2015: Mexican Supreme Court reopens murder case

In 2015, the Mexican Supreme Court required the police to reopen and investigate the murder case of Mariana Lima Buenida from a femicide "perspective".

2015: Femicide as a crime in the Brazilian Penal Code

Through Law No. 13,104 in 2015, femicide is defined as a crime in the Brazilian Penal Code, punishable by 12 to 30 years in prison when committed against a woman on grounds of female condition.

2016: Analysis of Female Murders in Kenya

Between 2016 and 2017, Africa Data Hub analyzed 930 female murders in Kenya, with 628 meeting the UNODC's definition of femicide.

2016: Femicide rates and female deaths in Mexico

In 2016, Mexico had a rate of female homicides of 4.6 femicides per 100,000, totaling 2,746 female deaths presumed to be homicides. Colima, Guerrero, and Zacatecas had the highest state rates, while Acapulco de Juárez, Tijuana, and Juárez had the highest municipal rates.

2016: Murder in Gangnam Station Bathroom

In 2016, in South Korea, a 34-year-old named Kim randomly murdered a woman in her twenties in a Gangnam Station bathroom, stating his motive was hatred for women.

July 2017: Investigation rate of women killed in Mexico

According to the National Citizen Observatory on Femicide, in July 2017, only 49 percent of the 800 cases of women killed in Mexico between June and July were investigated as femicide.

2017: Femicide and feminicide criminalized in 18 countries

As of 2017, femicide and feminicide became crimes in 18 countries due to the spread of the concept of femicide (the murder of females) brought by the Mexican female activist, Marcela Lagarde.

2017: Analysis of Female Murders in Kenya

Between 2016 and 2017, Africa Data Hub analyzed 930 female murders in Kenya, with 628 meeting the UNODC's definition of femicide.

2017: COST project "femicide across Europe"

From 2013 to 2017, 30 European countries joined a COST (Cooperation on Science and Technology) project called "femicide across Europe".

2018: Colombia prosecutes a transgender woman's murder as a femicide

Colombia prosecuted a transgender woman's murder as a femicide for the first time in 2018, sentencing Davinson Stiven Erazo Sánchez to twenty years in a psychiatric center for "aggravated femicide" a year after he killed Anyela Ramos Claros, a transgender woman.

2018: Underreporting and under-investigation of crimes in Mexico

In 2018, it was reported that "93 percent of crimes were either not reported or not investigated" in Mexico, indicating a significant issue with law enforcement and justice for victims of crime, including femicide.

2018: Toronto van attack

In 2018, the Toronto van attack, a vehicle-ramming attack, resulted in eleven casualties and fifteen injuries in Canada. The perpetrator, a self-described "incel", sought revenge on women due to perceived social rejection.

2018: Murders resulting from domestic violence

In 2019, a survey carried out by the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, there were 1,310 murders resulting from domestic violence or motivated by gender, characteristics of femicide. It was an increase of 7.2% compared to 2018.

2019: Mexico's most violent year on record

Almost 35,000 people were murdered in 2019, making it Mexico's most violent year on record, highlighting the country's struggle with violence and crime.

2019: Release of the 2019 Domestic Violence Survey Study

In 2019, The South Korean government released the 2019 Domestic Violence Survey Study that found that only 27.6 percent of women over the age of 13 feel society is safe for them. In 2019 32,000 sex crimes against women were reported and domestic violence cases have reached 50,000.

2019: Femicide statistic in Australia

In 2019, a statistic from the Australian Institute of Criminology indicated that on average, one woman a week is murdered in an act of femicide in Australia.

2019: Murders resulting from domestic violence

In 2019, a survey carried out by the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, there were 1,310 murders resulting from domestic violence or motivated by gender, characteristics of femicide. It was an increase of 7.2% compared to 2018.

2019: Significant drop in Turkey's femicide rate

Since 2019, Turkey's femicide rate has seen a significant drop of 44.9%.

2019: Statistics and structure of femicide in Spain

Statistics and structure of femicide in Spain are reported yearly (2010–2019).

2019: Femicide statistics reported by Women NGO

Statistics of femicide in Italy are reported yearly (1995–2019) by the independent Women NGO.

February 2020: Kidnapping and murder of Fatima Cecilia

On February 11, 2020, seven-year-old Fatima Cecilia was kidnapped from school in Mexico and found dead a couple of days later. This event sparked large demonstrations against femicides across the country.

2020: Examination of Elderly Women Murders in Israel

A 2020 examination from media and internet sources of every single murder of an elderly woman in Israel committed between 2006 and 2015 revealed that all the cases of female geronticide were intimate partner femicides, and perpetrated in the domestic arena.

2020: Femicide statistics in Turkey

In 2020, 300 women died as a result of femicide in Turkey, less than the year before. The source started differentiating between confirmed femicides and suspicious deaths in 2020, totaling 471 in 2020 and 474 in 2019, a decrease of about 0,5%.

2020: Age of Consent Raised

In 2020, in South Korea, the age of consent was raised from 13 to 16, with a stipulation that the perpetrator must be 19 or older to be prosecuted for sex crimes against victims between the age of 13 and 16.

March 2021: Women murdered in England and Wales

Data published in 2022 shows that in year ending March 2021, 177 women were murdered in England and Wales.

March 2021: Turkey Withdraws from Istanbul Convention

In March 2021, the Turkish government decided to leave the Istanbul convention via presidential decree, making it the first and only country in the Council of Europe to have withdrawn from any international human rights convention.

August 2021: Highest femicide count since 2019 in Mexico

In August 2021, a total of 108 femicides occurred in Mexico, the highest number recorded since 2019, indicating a resurgence in violence against women.

2021: Black women victim of femicide in the UK

2021 data from the Metropolitan Police showed that 12% of femicide victims were Black in the UK.

2021: Female Homicides in Africa

Between 1990 and 2021, the number of female homicides in Africa rose from 12,570 to 19,769, though the age-standardized death rate decreased from 4.58 to 3.34 per 100,000 women, remaining nearly double the global average of 1.76 per 100,000 in 2021.

2021: Reported Murders of Women in Honor Killings

Between 2021 and 2024, around 180 women reportedly were murdered by their husbands mostly honor killings.

2021: Confirmed and suspicious femicide deaths in Turkey

In 2021, the combined total of confirmed and suspicious femicide deaths in Turkey was 497.

2022: Black women victim of femicide in the UK

2022 data from the Metropolitan Police showed that Black women made up 43% of femicide victims despite just 14% of the London population being Black.

2022: Women murdered in England and Wales

Data published in 2022 shows that in year ending March 2021, 177 women were murdered in England and Wales.

2022: Global Murders of Women and Girls

In 2022, the number of women and girls murdered globally was nearly 89,000.

2022: Cases of femicide recorded in Brazil

In 2023, during the first half of the year, the country had already recorded 722 cases of femicide, 2.6% more than crimes of the same nature recorded in the same period of 2022, according to data from the Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP).

2022: Femicides by sons

Out of 121 women killed by men in 2022, 12% were killed by sons whilst 11% were killed by someone unknown.

2023: Growing Problem of Femicide Noted

As of 2023, it has been noted there is a growing problem of femicide.

2023: Africa Recorded Highest Rate of Intimate Partner and Family-Related Femicide

In 2023, Africa recorded 21,000 cases which led to the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide, followed by the Americas, and then by Oceania.

2023: Criticism for naming Brianna Ghey as a victim of femicide

In 2023, Labour MP for domestic abuse, Jess Phillips, received criticism for naming the trans-girl, Brianna Ghey as a victim of femicide.

2023: Cases of femicide recorded in Brazil

In 2023, during the first half of the year, the country had already recorded 722 cases of femicide, 2.6% more than crimes of the same nature recorded in the same period of 2022, according to data from the Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP).

2023: UN Estimates on Intentional Murders of Women and Girls

In 2023, the UN estimated that a woman or girl is intentionally murdered by a family member, partner, or non-intimate individual every 10 minutes globally.

2023: Bill Against Violence on Women Passed

In 2023, the bill against violence on women was passed after a decade in government.

2023: Increase in black femicides within the UK

In 2023, the figures of black femicide rose to 62% in the UK.

2023: Cases of Femicide in Kenya

In Kenya, specific cases of femicide totaled to 82 in 2023.

December 2024: Protests Against Femicide in Nairobi

In December 2024, thousands of people, mostly women, marched in Nairobi to protest against a wave of femicides, demanding government action. Police used teargas to disperse the group, detaining at least 3 activist protesters.

2024: Reported Murders of Women in Honor Killings

Between 2021 and 2024, around 180 women reportedly were murdered by their husbands mostly honor killings.

2024: Seven women killed in one day in Turkey

In 2024, seven women were killed by current or former partners in one day in Turkey.

2024: Concerns of black femicides within the UK

In 2024, there were growing concerns of black femicides within the UK. Black women and girls in recent statistics were more likely than those of other races to be killed by their partners, family members or non-intimate people in Greater London.