Why are women still being killed by men — and what must change?
Across the world, the killing of women by men has become an almost daily headline.
This is not “sensational news” — it is a global emergency.
Women are most likely to be killed by:
• A partner or ex-partner
• A male family member
• A man they know
Femicide does not happen “out of the blue.”
It is almost always the end point of ongoing abuse, coercion, control, threats, stalking, and violence that was previously minimised or ignored.
Why does this keep happening?
- Misogyny and gender inequality
• Possessiveness and entitlement
• A belief that women are property
• A desire for control when a woman tries to leave
• Societal minimising of early warning signs
• Lack of accountability for perpetrators
• Poor responses to women’s cries for help
How do we stop this?
We end femicide by ending the behaviours and systems that allow it to build:
✔ Listening when a woman says she does not feel safe
✔ Challenging abusive behaviour early
✔ Strengthening legal protections
✔ Educating boys and men about respect, consent, and accountability
✔ Ensuring police and services respond quickly and appropriately
✔ Creating safe routes for women to leave abuse
✔ Supporting survivors, not judging them
Femicide is not inevitable.
It is preventable — but only if society, communities, men, and systems refuse to ignore the red flags.
Every woman has the right to live.
Every woman deserves safety.
