Greece considers recognizing femicide as unique crime

Around 30 countries have legally recognized femicide, the killing of women because of their gender, as a distinct crime, with nations in Central and South America leading the way.

While some European countries have followed suit with amendments to existing laws, Greece has not yet adopted this legal recognition, despite growing public demand. Activists began pushing for the term “femicide” to be formally acknowledged after the 2018 killing of Eleni Topaloudi.

The World Health Organization declared gender-based violence an epidemic in 2020, reporting that over 50,000 women and girls have been killed by intimate partners or family members since 2024, a figure representing only reported cases. Globally, roughly one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence, often from current or former partners. The WHO links this violence to long-term health issues like depression, PTSD, and unintended pregnancies.

In Greece, 174 femicides have been recorded from January 2018 to August 2026, according to the Greek branch of the European Observatory on Femicide. While nearly all perpetrators of femicide are men, and most men who are killed are killed by other men, legal experts argue that recognizing femicide as a specific crime is essential for accurately tracking the issue, understanding its root causes, and implementing effective prevention strategies.

Though some argue against it as creating an unconstitutional distinction, advocates emphasize that it’s a positive step toward gender equality.