Two women in Belgium are killed by a person close to them every month an unofficial count of femicides in the country this year showed. This number is only thought to be just the tip of the iceberg however - as no official figures are recorded.
At least 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally around the world in 2023, according to UN figures published on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November). Two in three (60%) of these murders, or 51,000, were committed by intimate partners or other family members. This means that one woman is killed by their partner or former partner every ten minutes, globally.
"The home remains the most dangerous place for women in terms of the risk of lethal victimisation, with 60% of them having been victims of 'their spouse or other family members,'" the UN report on femicides read. In Europe, 64% of intimate partner/family member killings are committed by intimate partners.
In Belgium, where there are no official figures on the number of women killed by their partners or former partners, the 'Stop Féminicide' blog has counted at least 21 victims of femicide, of whom 19 were killed by their partner or ex since the beginning of this year.
The latest incident included in the count is the death of Sylwia (40), who was killed in Ixelles by her husband on 15 November, alongside her two children.
This figure is based on mentions of women being killed by an intimate partner in the press (the 'Stop Féminicide' blog sifts through press articles to give a face and name to the victims). But the actual figure is likely even higher, as not all deaths are named as femicides or reported on in connection to domestic violence, meaning some crimes are potentially overlooked.
Gathering figures
While figures have not been systematically tracked until now, this is improving due to the law against femicide which came into force in October 2023. The Institute for Gender Equality is collecting data and will write up an annual report from 2026, VRT NWS reported.
As part of this law, the legal definition of femicide – broadly, the murdering of women and girls because of their gender – was enshrined and enhanced protection for victims. However, this also covers the killing of men based on their gender. While a less common trend, this also happens in Belgium. The Femicide Act is therefore officially called the Act for the Prevention and Combating of Femicides and Gender-based Killings.
The police and judiciary are also acting to respond better to such cases, by working with a risk assessment tool to evaluate which steps should be taken urgently from the police and judiciary.
If you are a victim of partner violence, you can call 1712, the anonymous helpline for questions about violence, abuse and child abuse. If in danger, contact the police on 101.
Do you know a victim or want to report abuse?
The Centre for General Welfare Work (CAW) has listed five tips on how to help:
- Let them know you are there and offer a listening ear without judgement;
- refer to professional help;
- do not impose your opinion about the violent partner, as victims tend to shut themselves off as a result;
- be discreet and don't minimise what is happening;
- in an emergency, contact the police at 101.
