This quote is the title of the Femicide Census Report on the 1,425 women killed by men in the UK, in the 10 years between 2009 and 2018.
On average a woman is killed by a man every three days.
Femicide is generally defined as the murder of women because they are women; the misogynistic killing of women by men – although some definitions include any murders of women or girls. Femicide has been identified as a leading cause of premature death for women globally.
The aim of the census is to explore whether lessons can be learnt by viewing these cases together. The data shows that most femicides are committed in similar settings; similar weapons are used and similar relationships exist between the perpetrators and victims.
The data shows that these killings are not isolated incidents, but follow a repeated pattern of violence with a history of abuse known in 59% (1,042) of cases, femicides committed by current or former partners or other male relatives . At least 34% of women had children under 18 years of age. Frequently the killings are committed by perpetrators with a history of violence in circumstances in which the victim has told others of the violence she suffers and sought help.
Sadly, the conclusion of the report is that despite attempting to raise awareness of the problem through social, institutional and state changes, femicide numbers have changed very little over the ten years.
The researchers state the view that this is “one of the greatest public policy failures of the decade and so we urge renewed efforts to challenge male violence, hold perpetrators to account and, importantly, hold the State to account in its obligation to respect, protect and fulfil women’s human rights.”
The report identifies a range of actions for Government, policing and the criminal justice system, for law and policy, for data capture and accessibility, for technology and media
and for support services for women subjected to male violence.‘
The full census report is available at:
https://www.femicidecensus.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Femicide-Census-10-year-