Each October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), we reflect on the countless lives impacted by intimate partner violence and reaffirm our commitment to ending this crisis. This year, Sanctuary for Families is turning our focus toward femicide — a critical but often overlooked consequence of domestic violence.
1. What is Femicide?
2. The Prevalence of Femicide in the U.S.
3. What Should People Know about Femicide?
4. How You Can Help
What is Femicide?
Femicide is the murder of women and girls because of their gender. It is the most extreme and tragic outcome of domestic abuse, rooted in misogyny and gender-based violence. Unlike other forms of homicide, femicide is not just about one person killing another—it is about power, control, and the systemic devaluation of women’s lives. In the context of domestic violence, femicide is often the culmination of years of abuse, manipulation, and coercive control.
The Prevalence of Femicide in the U.S.
Femicide is a global crisis, but it is very much a silent epidemic in the United States. According to Women Count USA, 1,104 American women and girls were lost to femicide in 2023. As of October 17 of this year, 607 women have allegedly been killed because of their gender. In many cases, the warning signs are clear: the victim has been stalked, threatened, or previously abused, yet interventions fail to prevent these lethal outcomes.
So far in 2024, more than 600 women and girls have allegedly been murdered in the United States because of their gender.
As with so many other forms of violence, women of color are disproportionately affected by femicide. Compared to white women, Black women are nearly three times as likely to be killed by an intimate partner. For Indigenous women and girls, the rate of homicide is 6.4 times higher than that of their white counterparts.
The widespread presence of guns in the United States significantly increases the lethality of domestic violence and contributes to the alarming rates of femicide. According to the GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, women in the U.S. are 21 times more likely to be killed with a gun than women in other high-income countries, making firearms a central factor in many femicides. Furthermore, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that abusers with access to firearms are 5 times more likely to kill their partners. The prevalence of guns, combined with systemic failures to protect survivors, turns abusive relationships into deadly situations far too often.
Women are 5X more likely to be killed if their abuser has access to a gun.
Despite the alarming rates, femicide remains underreported and underacknowledged across the United States. Many murders of women, particularly those from marginalized communities, are not properly investigated and perpetrators are not always held accountable.
What Should People Know About Femicide?
Understanding femicide requires acknowledging the systemic nature of gender-based violence. This is not an isolated issue—it is deeply embedded in our culture and the way we view violence against women.
To combat femicide, we must:
1. Recognize the signs of escalating violence.
Many femicides are preventable when we recognize the warning signs. Perpetrators often exhibit patterns of behavior—such as stalking, controlling actions, obsessive jealousy, isolation, and threats—that signal increasing danger. These behaviors should never be dismissed as mere “relationship problems” but seen as red flags that could lead to lethal violence.
Listening to survivors and taking their concerns seriously is critical. Too often, threats are minimized, leaving women unprotected. Intervention at the first sign of danger—whether by law enforcement, friends, or family—can make all the difference. Providing survivors with the resources and support they need, including access to services like those offered by Sanctuary for Families, empowers them to escape abusive situations before they escalate.
2. Demand accountability from law enforcement and the justice system.
Too often, restraining orders and protective measures fail to prevent femicides. Law enforcement must be trained to recognize and act swiftly in cases where women are at risk. All too often, warning signs like threats and stalking are ignored, leaving survivors vulnerable.
We need stronger accountability from law enforcement and the justice system. Officers and prosecutors must treat these cases with the urgency they deserve, ensuring protective orders are enforced and abusers face serious consequences. Additionally, better data collection on femicide cases will help hold these institutions accountable and prevent further tragedies.
3. Fight against the culture of silence.
A major barrier to addressing femicide is the stigma and silence around intimate partner violence. Many survivors hesitate to come forward due to fear or shame, and society’s avoidance of these issues allows the violence to persist. Breaking this silence is essential—whether by speaking up, supporting organizations like Sanctuary for Families, or advocating for stronger legal protections.
By raising awareness and challenging harmful cultural norms, we can shift the way society responds to intimate partner violence. When we speak out and stand with survivors, we take an active role in preventing future violence and holding abusers accountable.
How Can You Help Fight Femicide?
The fight against femicide requires all of us to act. Here are some ways you can make a difference:
Support legislation that protects survivors
Reproductive rights and gun control are critical to preventing femicide. Access to reproductive healthcare, including safe and legal abortion, is essential for survivors of intimate partner violence, who are often subjected to coercion and control over their reproductive choices. Restricting access to reproductive care leaves women more vulnerable to abuse and violence.
In addition, stronger gun control laws are essential to protecting survivors of domestic violence. Over half of all femicides perpetrated by abusive partners are committed with guns. Laws that limit access to firearms for abusers, such as universal background checks and prohibitions on gun ownership for those convicted of domestic violence, can save lives. Advocating for these reforms is key to reducing the threat of femicide and ensuring the safety and autonomy of survivors.
Donate to Sanctuary for Families
Our programs provide critical support to adult and child survivors of domestic violence. Your donation helps us provide emergency shelter, legal representation, counseling, and economic empowerment to families fleeing abuse.
Raise Awareness
Use your voice to educate others about femicide and domestic violence. Whether through social media, community events, or conversations with friends and family, every bit of awareness helps shift the culture and save lives.
We Must Act Now
As we honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we must remember that awareness alone is not enough. Femicide is preventable, but it requires concerted action from all of us—from lawmakers to law enforcement, from communities to individuals. Together, we can work toward a world where women no longer live in fear and where their lives are fully valued.
Join us this October in raising awareness about femicide and standing in solidarity with survivors.