Emmanuel Rohn, a PhD candidate in Sociology and CSSLRV researcher, University of Guelph, recently presented a research paper on “Femicide in sub-Saharan Africa” at the XX ISA World Congress of Sociology, 25th June – 1st July 2023, Melbourne, Australia. Femicide is one of the leading causes of premature death in sub-Saharan Africa, yet a limited body of scholarly work addresses this issue. Collaborating with Dr. Eric Tenkorang of Memorial University (NFLD), a systematic search of bibliographic databases, such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and grey literature, was conducted. Their search included 21 scholarly articles on femicide in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, and Zambia. Their research findings showed that femicide, particularly intimate partner femicide (IPF), is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Motivating factors such as suspicion of infidelity, jealousy, and sexual rejection preceded the majority of IPF incidents. Guns were the predominant weapon of choice in most IPF incidents. The media framed femicide as an isolated event rather than a systematic problem. Cultural norms and beliefs associated with masculinity were important correlates of femicide. Additionally, witchcraft femicide was common. Accusations of witchcraft were a handy pretext for the ruthless treatment of impoverished and marginalised elderly women. To address these challenges, their paper recommends increasing investment in violence prevention, enhancing risk assessments at various points of care, supporting women experiencing intimate partner violence, and placing restrictions on gun ownership for those with a history of violence. Improvements in data collection and management are critical defence resources in the fight against femicide.
Read the full article, “Femicide in sub-Saharan Africa.”
