Femicide as the most extreme form of gender-based violence against women

Gender-based violence against women, particularly femicide, is a global problem. This article provides an overview of the various forms of gender-based violence against women, with femicide being the most extreme form in focus. After a derivation and discussion of the central terms, explanations follow on the prevalence of femicide internationally and specifically in Germany; however, these are only approximate estimates as few valid data are available due to a lack of definitional consensus, among other things. Causes and risk factors have been investigated (inter)nationally, especially for so-called intimate femicide, and primarily concern domestic violence, threats and separation conflicts. In order to better record femicides and develop preventative measures, a definitional consensus and systematic data collection are required. Prevention measures should focus not only on potential victims but also on potential perpetrators in order to reduce gender-based violence against women in the long term. © Der/die Autor(en), exklusiv lizenziert an Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, ein Teil von Springer Nature 2025.