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Nearly 50,000 women were killed in 2024 by intimate partners or family members.

Many perpetrators of femicide adhere to the "fusion" model of love.

True love supports autonomy, growth, and the flourishing of both individuals.

“I've got you so deep in my heart that you're really a part of me.” —Frank Sinatra

“I felt as if she was my air, as if she was the only thing that sustained me.” —Murderer

Love is widely regarded as moral, altruistic, and well‑intentioned—an emotion that seeks the partner’s flourishing. How, then, can the murder of a beloved wife be associated with love?

Femicide: What the Data Shows

The phenomenon of men killing their wives or partners “out of love” is not rare. In 2024, nearly 50,000 women (including girls) were killed by an intimate partner or family member. This means that about 60 percent of all intentional killings of women occurred in their own homes—the very place where they should feel safest. Regionally, Africa recorded the highest number of femicide victims (22,600), followed by Asia (17,400), the Americas (7,700), Europe (2,100), and Oceania (300). In the United States, nearly three women are killed every day by an intimate partner. Brazil—considered one of the most dangerous countries for women—recorded 6,904 attempted and completed femicides in 2025, a 34 percent increase from 2024. Of these, 2,149 were murders, averaging almost six women killed per day.

What Increases the Risk of Femicide?

Explaining femicide through a single factor—such as male possessiveness or........

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