Activists want probe into femicide

A group of women human rights defenders have demanded that the government institute a judicial inquiry on femicide cases in the country to stem violence against women.

Brought together by Defenders Coalition under the banner of Ni Mama network, the 150-strong group said a sporadic and one-off reaction to cases of violence against women would not solve the menace in the long run, and only embolden the perpetrators.

Mary Simat, chairperson of the board of trustees of Defenders Coalition, said the severity of the wave of the crime warranted an institutional approach that will create a lasting solution.

“[The International Women’s Day] comes at a time when we are witnessing unprecedented levels of violence against women and girls within our communities. The rising cases of gender-based violence and femicide in the country serve as a constant reminder that very little effort is being made to ensure that such cases are comprehensively dealt with and are a thing of the past,” Simat said.

In the past year, 170 women were killed.

“Femicide is the most extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls. Women and girls are intentionally killed based on their gender often perpetrated by intimate partners, relatives, siblings or close associates,” she said.

The lobby expressed concern about the “poor investigations of these cases, low prosecution of the perpetrators, failing to hold them to account for their crimes”.

These only ‘glorify’ the killers and justice for the victims, or their families, cannot be met.

Failing to hold perpetrators to account for their actions does not inspire confidence with the criminal justice system, Simat said.

“Criminal justice actors must make deliberate efforts to ensure that all perpetrators of such crimes are brought to justice. A strong and clear message must be sent out to deter any other potential perpetrators.”

This year’s Women’s day was marked on March 8 and themed ‘Accelerate Action’. Africa Data Hub, a platform mounted by OdipoDev and Africa Uncensored, shows femicide and violence against women is generally underreported.

Their analysis paints a pattern of deliberate purposing of aggression against women, recording 930 cases of violence and killing of women between 2016 and last year, revealing that up to 70 per cent meet UN’s criteria of femicide.

“Through this comprehensive collection of killings, it becomes evident that these tragedies are far more than have been identified. And that the cases are not isolated; instead, they reveal recurring patterns, indicating a deeper and more systemic issue,” it says.

Its data corroborates UN’s finding that intimate partners and family members perpetrate the majority of killings of women.

“Our analysis shows that in 77 per cent of cases, killings were committed by a person known by the victim - an intimate partner, relative or friend. 68 per cent of the perpetrators were currently or had previously been in an intimate relationship with the victim,” says.

“Husbands, then boyfriends, are the biggest culprits. In only about 22 per cent of cases, the woman was killed by a stranger or relationship is unknown.”

While asking women to take extra precaution to be safe from harm, Simat says the state must ensure proper structures are put in place, include adequate reporting mechanisms.