Death Threats and Attempted Femicide in the Context of Domestic Violence in Portugal

Sofia Neves (), Emília Silva, Joana Topa, Janete Borges, Alice Pereira and Estefânia Silva
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Sofia Neves: Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies, University of Maia (CIEG/ISCSP-ULisboa), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Emília Silva: Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies, University of Maia (CIEG/ISCSP-ULisboa), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Joana Topa: Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies, University of Maia (CIEG/ISCSP-ULisboa), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Janete Borges: Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies, University of Maia (CIEG/ISCSP-ULisboa), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Alice Pereira: Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies, University of Maia (CIEG/ISCSP-ULisboa), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Estefânia Silva: Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies, University of Maia (CIEG/ISCSP-ULisboa), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal

Social Sciences, 2022, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-10

Abstract: Domestic violence is a serious problem in Portugal, affecting mainly women. The significant number of femicides in the context of intimate partner violence has been showing not only the severity of the crime, but also the necessity to reinforce strategies to prevent and combat it. Although several studies were developed in the last decades to portray domestic violence, research on the threat of death and attempted femicide is scarce. This study aims to characterize death threats and attempts of femicide, in the light of the professionals’ perspectives from the Portugal National Support Network for Victims of Domestic Violence, contributing to informing best practices of risk assessment. Seventy-one professionals, 62 female (87.3%) and 9 male (12.7%), at an average age of 37.69 years, filled a questionnaire survey. Results suggest weaknesses in the application of current legislation and the adoption of effective measures in situations where victims experience death threats and attempted murders. Although there are criminal proceedings before these episodes, this does not seem to have effective consequences in terms of protection and security, whereby the development of strategies that safeguard victims from tragic endings such as femicide are necessary.

Keywords: gender-based violence; victims; femicide; risk assessment; professionals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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