Will Femicide Ever Come to an End?

A day cannot pass by without hearing that a woman or girl was killed either by a boyfriend, spouse or even male relatives. According to the website change.org, between 2023 and 2024, over 100 women and girls were murdered in Cameroon alone. And these are only the documented cases. Every new day brings forth its own tragedy against the female gender, and we begin to wonder if it will ever come to an end. A recent case in point was the senseless murder of Mispa NGANKOU by her husband on December 28, 2024, in Bassamba, a locality in the West Region of Cameroon.  Her husband shot her to death with his hunting gun before going into hiding. Nobody knows what transpired, but according to information from her family, the husband was very violent towards her and, in several cases, she had to escape and seek refuge in her parents’ home.  

This particular case made me reflect on how complex it is for most married women to free themselves from the shackles of domestic abuse and violence, especially when children are in the picture. At most times, these women solely depend on their husbands to provide everything, and they sometimes do not know how they will cope if they eventually leave their abusive homes. In other cases, it is the way society looks at divorced women that pushes others to continuously stay in abusive homes. We live in a society where people say it is ok to leave, but they will shame you for leaving and struggling on your own. Notwithstanding, more women are being educated, and we can say that they are outgrowing the notion that they must stay married or be in a relationship at all costs. Although there is still a lot of work to be done. More women are gradually beginning to understand the joy and freedom that comes from financial independence. And as more women gain their financial freedom, we can only hope that they also free themselves from the chains of domestic violence which more often leads to femicide.  But again, will femicide ever come to an end? We cannot give a concrete answer, but we remain hopeful that appropriate policies will be put in place that truly protect women and keep them alive.