24. júní 2025

HRC59 - JST - Gender related killings of women and girls also known as Femicide

Human Rights Council – 59^th Session
Item 3: Annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women
Joint Statement delivered on Gender related killings of women and girls also known as Femicide
24 June 2025

Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of 67 states, including my own.

Femicide is the most extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls, constituting a grave violation of their human rights including their right to life. Although the majority of femicides are perpetrated by an intimate partner or family member, they also take place in many contexts beyond the domestic sphere, including by someone unknown to the victim, or connected with armed conflict, gangs, human trafficking and other forms of organized crime.

Femicide is driven by gender-based discrimination, unequal power relations between women and men, gender stereotypes, deeply rooted patriarchal norms and harmful social norms. The fact that 1 woman or girl are killed every 10 minutes, is quite alarming.

Although there have been positive developments, real change remains slow. We encourage states to take effective, informed, comprehensive and timely measures to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and punish femicide in a manner that is commensurate with the gravity of the crime. Adequate psychosocial support, protection and accessible legal aid, should also be made available for the families of victims. We also call on states to strengthen data collection and reporting on femicide, given its importance in the establishment of preventive measures.

Moreover, it is important that we enhance international, regional, and bilateral cooperation, including through technical assistance, capacity-building, and the sharing of good practices, to assist in preventing and addressing femicides.

In this regard, we urge states to ensure that their response to femicides is consistent with their international human rights obligations.

I thank you.

List of signatories: