Switzerland faces sharp increase in killings of women

The crisis of violence against women has been intensifying across European countries in recent years, largely amid government inaction.

Recent studies show that the number of femicides in Switzerland is increasing, with domestic and sexual violence now recognized as a serious national issue.

In 2024, Swiss police recorded 21,127 cases of domestic violence, marking a 6% increase compared to the previous year.

According to reports from non-governmental organizations, the number of femicides in Switzerland has also risen in 2025. Most of these murders occur within the victims’ homes.

These organizations have warned that the number of victims may increase toward the end of the year.

According to Le Nouvelliste, Switzerland has recorded 22 femicides since the beginning of 2025, meaning one woman is killed every two weeks.

Experts and legal professionals stress that Swiss authorities often fail to take women’s complaints about domestic violence seriously — a neglect that leaves victims vulnerable to escalating abuse and, in many cases, fatal outcomes.

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) notes that collecting accurate data on femicide across the European Union is difficult due to varying legal definitions.

While some countries such as Malta, Cyprus, and Croatia have incorporated femicide into their criminal codes, women across Europe continue to be killed because of their gender.