the observatory, a feminist-led initiative at the university of guelph, began documenting killings of women and girls in canada in 2018. so far, more than 850 women and girls have lost their lives, mostly at the hands of men, according to the observatory’s statistics.
the observatory’s 2023 statistics showed 187 femicides in canada in 2023, compared to 184 femicides in 2022, 173 in 2021 and 160 in 2020. the 2024 numbers have not yet been released.
the term “femicide” has been used for decades. advocates have argued that having a common understanding of the term will permit data collection by police and statistics canada.
the ottawa police service started using the term “femicide” in its public statements in 2022.
a home in west ottawa on lady slipper way where police said a woman was found dead aug. 25, 2024.
ken warren
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postmedia
however, discussions continue globally as to how femicide should be defined, why and how it is distinct from other homicides, and how these differences can be measured to better identify sex/gender-related killings of women and girls,” the canadian femicide observatory said.
in june 2022, an inquest probing the 2015 murders of carol culleton, 66, anastasia kuzyk, 36, and nathalie warmerdam, 48, at the hands of basil borutski made 86 recommendations aimed at preventing intimate partner violence, including asking ontario to formally declare intimate partner violence (ipv) as an epidemic.