Challenges and Benefits in Policy and Research for the Measurement of Femicide

Feminist social and legal scholars, including sociologists, have contributed significantly to discussions about the conceptualization and measurement of femicide in efforts to achieve legal justice for victims and their families. At least 22 countries now include femicide (or feminicide in some regions) in legislation and penal/criminal codes, with varying definitions and indicators used to identify these types of killings in law. Drawing from the United Nations statistical framework and related research, this presentation will examine emerging sex/gender related motives and indicators of femicide (SGRMIs), including their accessibility and applicability across countries, including Canada, to identify challenges and benefits posed for research and policy in other countries and regions.