Croatia has become the latest in a string of nations to make killing women because of their gender a specific offence.
In 1782, a judge in England gave husbands the right to use violence on their wives as long as any implement used was not thicker than their thumb. This standard of measurement led to the coining of the term “rule of thumb”.
While no agreed definition of the phenomenon exists, femicide is broadly defined as the killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. This might be as a result of intimate partner violence or killing in the name of “honour”, for example. Croatia is the most recent country to adopt a dedicated femicide law, making it a standalone offence punishable with a prison sentence of ten years or more.
Laws are not enough A report from Queen Mary University of London used the case study of Mexico to argue that the law alone has not led to the reduction of femicide there. The key findings from this report should certainly act as a crucial resource to not only understand the complexity of femicide as an extreme form of gender-based violence but to increase efforts to better respond to it.
Costa Rica has sought to address this problem by signing into law an extended definition of femicide, which includes femicides perpetuated by those based on a relationship of trust, friendship, authority or power. This is to make it possible to punish crimes against women even if there is no “romantic” relationship between the perpetrator and the victim.
Europe Femicide Violence Against Women Violence Against Women And Girls
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Croatia’s ruling conservatives win most seats in election, but without majorityLed by prime minister Andrej Plenković, the Croatian Democratic Union won 60 seats out of 151 but face tough talks to gather a majority
Read more »
Support for Ukraine at stake as Croatia votes in parliamentary electionPolls suggest Croatian Democratic Union could lose majority to Social Democrat-led coalition headed by populist president
Read more »
Femicide surge: the Cycladic figures found in the Aegean show a deep respect for the female body. How did Greece lose this?With their serene poses, beautiful curves and arms often enfolding pregnant bellies, these figurines celebrate the miracle of fertility. Sadly, I saw them during protests about violence against women
Read more »
Kazakh court jails former minister for 24 years for brutal murder of wifeKazakhstan to toughen penalties for domestic violence as killing of Saltanat Nukenova prompts national outcry and shines spotlight on high femicide rates
Read more »
'No one is keeping count' of murdered Indigenous women, inquiry hearsAboriginal women in the Northern Territory suffer one of the highest rates of domestic, family and sexual violence in the world, a Senate inquiry has been told.
Read more »
Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain review – this changes everythingThis tremendous show highlights so many unjustly forgotten, belittled and misattributed works, from 15th century miniatures to Georgian thrillers, Victorian innovators and modern abstractors. What a seismic reckoning
Read more »