Testing the Femicide Statistical Framework for Use in Lesotho and Generating Estimates of Femicide for 2019-2022

Lesotho has one of the highest rates of intimate partner violence in the world, with 43 per cent of women reporting physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner. The widespread nature of femicide underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon to develop effective strategies to address it. 

This assessment builds on known complexities of collecting and reporting femicide data, which is argued to be multifaceted and involves several challenges that can compromise data quality. For instance, the lack of standardised definitions and classification systems for femicide and related forms of violence can lead to inconsistent reporting and poor data quality. Beyond this, patriarchal societal norms and biases can influence data collection and analysis, often marginalising the voices of women or ignoring their experiences―thus adding to the list of complexities. Extending to these, political influences and institutional red tape can also impede data collection and reporting. It is therefore essential to develop a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding femicide data collection and reporting to address these challenges, This requires examining existing data and engaging with key stakeholders to identify gaps in current practices and develop targeted strategies for improving data quality control measures.