Physical Autonomy
Physical autonomy refers to the ability of women, adolescents, and girls in all their diversity to live a life free from discrimination, harmful practices, and violence, and to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights in appropriate conditions.
Indicators
Feminicide
About this Indicator
Violence against women, and its most extreme expression—femicide, feminicide, or gender-based violent deaths of women (according to each country's terminology)—occurs systematically and persistently across the region. It affects women and girls of all ages and takes place in all settings, from the domestic sphere to public spaces. The indicator on femicide, feminicide, or gender-based aggravated homicide is reported by each country and has been published by the Gender Equality Observatory since 2009. In 2017, it was approved as a complementary regional indicator of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to monitor progress toward eliminating extreme violence against women and girls in the region and to assess state responses regarding the implementation of public policies for its prevention.
It is important to note that temporal and cross-country comparisons of femicide, feminicide, or gender-based aggravated homicide cases or rates may not always be possible, as their identification depends on each country's legal definitions, legislative changes, judicial clarifications, or methodological adjustments.
Definition
This indicator corresponds to the annual quantification of the total number of homicides of women aged 15 and older, killed due to gender-based reasons. According to national legislation, it is referred to as femicide, feminicide, or homicide aggravated by gender-based motives. It is expressed in absolute numbers and rates per 100,000 women (only for Latin American countries). The value "0" implies that no feminicides were reported in the country in the corresponding year. The indicator is based on the annual request made by the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean to the National Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women, which obtain this information from judicial institutions, national police forces, or other competent national bodies. Depending on the country, data is available from 2005 to the most recent year, with historical report updates for previous years.
Related Publications
Femicidal Violence in Figures Bulletin. Latin America and the Caribbean - Nº4. Towards substantive gender equality and the care society: acting with urgency to ensure women’s and girls’ right to a life free from violence
In 2024, at least 3,828 women were victims of femicide or gender-related violent death in 26 countries and territories of the region, according to the most recent data provided by official agencies to the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean. This represents at least 11 gender-related violent deaths of women every day, and a cumulative total of at least 19,254 recorded f...
Femicidal Violence in Figures Bulletin. Latin America and the Caribbean - Nº3. Urgent action to prevent and eliminate femicides
In 2023, at least 11 women were murdered every day for gender reasons in Latin America and the Caribbean. This number shows that, 30 years after the Beijing Declaration of Action and Platform and the Belém do Pará Convention and the regulatory advances developed by countries, feminicide is still present in the region and is the extreme expression of patriarchal and violent patterns. The document c...Latest regulation
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| 9 Dec 2024 | Child marriage laws
Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2024
Ley para modificar la Ley de Matrimonio. Se aumenta la edad para contraer matrimonio a dieciocho años; se eliminan las disposiciones sobre el consentimiento para el matrimonio infantil que deben dar los padres o tutores; y asuntos relacionados.
| 16 Feb 2021 | Laws against gender-based violenceProtection from Domestic Violence Act
This act determines what constitutes an act of domestic violence against a person. Domestic violence includes emotional or psychological abuse; financial abuse; physical abuse; or sexual abuse.
| 3 Aug 2017 | Laws against gender-based violenceMiscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Act
This act amends the Marriage and Divorce Act, Chap. 45:02, the Hindu Marriage Act, Chap. 45:03, the Orisa Marriage Act, Chap. 45:04 and the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act, Chap. 45:51. Through the modification introduced by Section 3, the marriage of minors under 18 years of age is absolutely prohibited.
More recent publications
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24 Nov 2025 | Observatory Publication
Femicidal Violence in Figures Bulletin. Latin America and the Caribbean - Nº4. Towards substantive gender equality and the care society: acting with urgency to ensure women’s and girls’ right to a life free from violence
In 2024, at least 3,828 women were victims of femicide or gender-related violent death in 26 countries and territories of the region, according to the most recent data provided by official agencies to the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean. This represents at least 11 gender-related violent deaths of women every day, and a cumulative total of at least 19,254 recorded f... -
24 Nov 2025 | Observatory Publication
Femicidal Violence in Figures Bulletin. Latin America and the Caribbean - Nº4. Towards substantive gender equality and the care society: acting with urgency to ensure women’s and girls’ right to a life free from violence
In 2024, at least 3,828 women were victims of femicide or gender-related violent death in 26 countries and territories of the region, according to the most recent data provided by official agencies to the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean. This represents at least 11 gender-related violent deaths of women every day, and a cumulative total of at least 19,254 recorded f...