Femicide was first defined as "the murders of women by men motivated by hatred, contempt, pleasure or a sense of ownership of women". Subsequently, it was defined as "the misogynist killing of women by men". The definition was expanded to go beyond that of misogynist killings, to all forms of sexist killings, including those killings by men motivated by the socially constructed right to do so, their superiority over females, pleasure or sadistic desires towards women, or the assumption of ownership over women.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences