Femicide Census (March 2025) – IFAS Response

Dedicated to the 2,000 women killed by men The Femicide Census Report 2000-Women-full-report.pdf makes for tough reading.

“Two thousand women whose lives were cut short by violent, controlling, angry, sadistic, sick and/or predatory men.”

“Two thousand women, one killed in the UK, on average, every three days.”

Of the 2,000 women aged 14 years and above who were killed in the UK since 2014, strangulation was used in 550 (27%) killings. 372 were strangled by an intimate partner.

It is clear from this report that strangulation is both a common method of killing women and part of the violence used in the killing of women (where it is not the cause of death). In our analysis of Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs), 59% of those who were killed by strangulation had experienced non-fatal strangulation prior to their death. This was compared to 34% of those who were killed by a sharp instrument. Recent data from the VKPP indicated that in the year ending 2023, suicides following domestic abuse superseded intimate partner homicides and that 20% of those who took their own life had been subjected to non-fatal strangulation prior to their death. The growing evidence through UK data on the high-risk nature of non-fatal strangulation in the context of domestic homicide and suicides following domestic cannot be ignored.

In recognition of its seriousness, the standalone offence of Non-Fatal Strangulation was introduced in 2022 in section 70 of the Domestic Abuse Act (2021). The Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS), funded by the Home Office, works to understand the prevalence of strangulation in the UK, raise awareness of the high risks associated with it, including potential escalating behaviours and develop resources to support frontline professionals in responding appropriately when strangulation is disclosed.

We encourage those responding to victim-survivors to develop a professional curiosity about the potential for strangulation as part of coercive and controlling behaviours and sexual violence. Sensitivity to the language used by the victim-survivors is crucial in gaining a greater understanding of the types of violent behaviours they have experienced and the associated risks.

Survivors of strangulation inform the work of IFAS and have recounted their experiences of the frontline responses across all agencies where their experience of strangulation has been ignored, diminished or not responded to.

We need to remember that each death is a person with a name, a life lost, and family and friends. In honour of their lives and for survivors of strangulation, we need to do better. IFAS is committed to continuing our work to address strangulation, sharing our understanding of strangulation in the UK and providing training to frontline professionals. We will support the government to halve violence against women and girls including this particular form of violence. We will continue to hear the experiences of those affected and use their voices to create change and save lives.

“There are many women who have lost their lives; however, they are women who have saved many other people’s lives as well. And it’s almost not letting them die in vain… but knowing that their legacies are protecting women and knowing that as a survivor, I’m reinforcing that every single day to help other women to feel empowered.”

– Quote from survivor, Reclaiming My Voice project (2024).