A medico-legal definition of femicide |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy;2. Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom;3. Department of Mental Health - Local Health Authority Roma 2, Italy;4. Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy;5. Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Cassino, Italy;6. Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy;7. Institute of Legal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine Graduate School of Medicine, Japan;1. Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, West China School of Basic Science and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;2. Department of Legal Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China;1. Forensic DNA Typing Laboratory, Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab Lahore 53700, Pakistan;2. Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta (BAUITEMS), Pakistan;1. Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India;2. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India;3. Department of Ocular Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India |
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| Abstract: | Femicide refers to the extreme form of violence against someone belonging to the female gender, i.e. the killing of a woman. Research shows that, to date, gender-based violence remains largely a hidden phenomenon with prevalence often being underestimated by official statistics and data missing in numerous countries. It can be argued that the under-reporting may be suggestive of a legislative gap that needs addressing.This work aims to reach a shared medico-legal definition of femicide stemming from a comprehensive review of the current legislation of countries around the world. In addition, it appraises forensic pathology studies focusing on the murder of women as well as the most relevant documents published by prominent international organizations fighting violence against women. Review of the literature shows a scarcity of national legislations concerning specifically femicide, despite the attention given to this phenomenon by international organizations fighting violence against women.Additionally, a non-homogeneous framing of the term femicide arises from the forensic pathology literature and national laws. Starting from one of the funding principle of medical ethics – autonomy – authors propose to define femicide as a murder perpetrated because of a failure to recognize the victim’s right to self-determination.This definition would give the forensic pathologist a central role in identifying femicide cases among the murders of women. A shared forensic approach is needed, ideally employing standardized methodology to compare international data and to standardize scientific research in the field. |
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| Keywords: | Femicide Female homicide Legal medicine National laws International resolutions Definition |
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