Feminicide (noun): The word “feminicide” is defined in dictionaries as “the murder of a woman because of her gender.” This term designates a violent act motivated by hatred, contempt, or patriarchal domination towards women.
Feminicide goes beyond simple homicide: it points to a specific form of violence linked to gender inequalities. These crimes are often committed in a context of domestic violence, harassment, or social and economic control of women by their partners, ex-partners, or members of society.
Why talk about it? Feminicide is an alarming phenomenon that is growing in several regions of the world, including Africa. Some cases have marked people’s minds and highlight the severity of this problem on the continent:
- Karabo Mokoena (South Africa): In 2017, this 22-year-old woman was brutally murdered by her boyfriend. Her body was burned, and her murder shocked South Africa, where feminicides are unfortunately frequent. The case drew attention to the worrying rise in violence against women in the country.
- Uyinene Mrwetyana (South Africa): In 2019, this 19-year-old student was raped and killed in a post office by an employee. Her murder sparked nationwide protests against feminicides, triggering a social movement under the slogan “Am I Next?”
- Maria Nagirinya (Uganda): In 2019, this Ugandan women’s rights activist was kidnapped and murdered, her body found a few days later. Her case caused an uproar in Uganda and highlighted the persistent violence against women in the country.
- More recently, after participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei was burned alive by her ex-partner. She succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, September 5.
Speaking of figures (numbers vary as these crimes are difficult to count) generally on the continent:
- According to Kenyan government reports, nearly 60 women have been killed since the beginning of 2024.
- In Algeria, according to the “Féminicides Algérie” collective, at least one woman is murdered every week.
- In 54 days in Cameroon, 16 women, including young girls, were murdered, according to the Cameroonian daily La Griote.
- As for South Africa, at least 3 women die every day at the hands of their husbands, according to the Johannesburg daily The Citizen.
These tragic cases show that feminicide in Africa is a worrying reality, often linked to contexts of domestic violence, deep-rooted misogyny, and lack of adequate protection for women.
Remember: Feminicide is not just an individual crime; it is the extreme expression of gender-based violence rooted in our societies. By naming it, we recognize this scourge to better combat it. It’s time to break the silence and implement concrete actions to ensure justice is done and these tragedies do not happen again.