Femicide in Colombia | How to raise awareness

Femicide is a serious problem in Colombia , which has received increasing attention in recent years. According to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Colombia, in 2020, 308 cases of femicide were registered in the country, which represents an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. Learn about the problem of feminicide in Colombia, its causes and possible solutions.

What is femicide?

Femicide is a form of gender violence in which a woman is killed for reasons related to her gender. This is a serious and worrisome problem throughout the world, and it is especially common in Latin America.

Femicide can take many forms, from physical and sexual violence to psychological and economic. Women who are victims of femicide have often been previously subjected to abuse and domestic violence, and their murders are often the end result of a long history of violence. It is an extreme form of gender violence and it is a complex problem that has multiple causes. Gender discrimination, lack of access to justice, impunity, social and economic inequality, domestic violence, and lack of education and awareness are some of the factors that contribute to femicide.

This has serious and lasting consequences for the victims, their families and society in general. Victims of femicide often suffer serious physical and psychological injuries before their death, and their families face irreparable pain and loss. In addition, femicide has a negative impact on society in general, by perpetuating gender discrimination and violence against women.

It is important to approach the problem of femicide seriously and take concrete measures to prevent it and protect women. This includes improving education and awareness about gender-based violence and femicide, improving protection for victims, strengthening the judicial system, and promoting gender equality in all areas of society . Only through a comprehensive and coordinated approach can we work to reduce femicide and create a safer and more just future for all women .

Causes of femicide in Colombia

Feminicide in Colombia is the result of multiple factors, including gender discrimination, gender violence, lack of access to justice, and impunity. Colombia is a country where violence against women is common, and women are often victims of sexual harassment, rape, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Gender discrimination is also a serious problem in Colombia, where women often face barriers in accessing education, employment, and political decision-making. This discrimination contributes to gender violence and femicide, since women do not have the same rights and opportunities as men, which makes them more vulnerable to violence.

Lack of access to justice and impunity are also contributing factors to this atrocity in Colombia. Often cases of violence against women go unreported or under-investigated, leaving women unprotected and at greater risk of violence. The lack of effective sanctions for perpetrators of gender-based violence also contributes to impunity and perpetuates violence.

Solutions to femicide in Colombia

Femicide is a complex and deeply rooted problem in Colombian society, therefore its solution requires a multidimensional approach. Here are some solutions that could help reduce femicide in Colombia:

• Education and awareness : It is extremely important to educate the population about the seriousness of the problem of femicide and to raise awareness about gender equality. Education on gender equality can help change sexist attitudes and behaviors that contribute to gender-based violence and femicide.
• Protection of victims: The protection of victims of gender violence and femicide must be improved. This includes providing safe havens for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, increasing the capacity of the police and the judiciary to investigate and prosecute cases of gender-based violence, and providing psychological and emotional support to victims and their families.
• Strengthening the judicial system: The judicial system needs to be strengthened to ensure that perpetrators of gender-based violence are prosecuted and sentenced. This includes improving the training of judges and prosecutors on issues of gender violence, establishing specialized courts for gender violence and femicide, and ensuring that sentences are effective and enforced.
• Promotion of gender equality: Gender equality needs to be promoted in all areas of Colombian society, including education, employment and political decision-making. This can help reduce gender discrimination and gender-based violence, and empower women to stand up for their rights and protect themselves against violence.
• Awareness campaigns: It is necessary to launch awareness campaigns on gender violence and femicide in the media and social networks. These campaigns can help raise awareness of the seriousness of the problem and foster a culture of respect and non-violence towards women.
• International cooperation: It is important that Colombia work in collaboration with other countries and international organizations to address the problem of femicide. This may include the sharing of best practices, cooperation in investigation and law enforcement, and the promotion of gender equality around the world.

It is necessary to educate the population about the seriousness of the problem, improve the protection of victims , strengthen the judicial system, promote gender equality, launch awareness campaigns and cooperate internationally to address this problem. Only through a comprehensive and coordinated approach can we work to reduce femicide and create a safer and more just future for all women in Colombia.