The Femicide Epidemic: A Case Study Analysis of Governmental Response and Recommendations for Combatting Femicide in El Salvador

Femicide refers to the misogynistic killing of women by men. Globally, femicide is the leading cause of premature deaths for women. El Salvador notoriously has one of the highest femicide rates in the world. This thesis analyzes the effectiveness of current Salvadoran governmental responses to femicide using quantitative and qualitative analysis. This research found that, despite a lack of enforcement, there was a relative reduction in femicide rates following major governmental responses. Most notably, following the passage of VAW-focused laws from 2011 to 2012 and the appointment of a particular unit to investigate gender-based violence, femicides in El Salvador decreased dramatically. If implemented properly, the positive impact of these responses could be even more significant. Based on this research and the ecological framework in which it is rooted, El Salvador should enforce current laws much more fully and develop initiatives that counteract the risk factors women face on the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. These initiatives should include promoting use of the danger assessment in public resource centers, conducting a femicide census, and incorporating gender-equality education into the school curriculum