Understanding Femicide: The Silent War Against Women

 Content warning: This article discusses femicide, intimate partner violence, and violence against women.

Most people would probably be spending their evening relaxing at home, watching television or scrolling through their phones from the comfort of their beds. On the evening of June 29, 2022, Azsia Johnson was doing something completely ordinary: taking a walk with her infant child. That simple moment became the last walk of her life before she was killed, leaving her family and children behind.

Azsia was an aspiring pediatric nurse and a mother of two children. She was tragically killed by her former partner, Isaac Argro, in what prosecutors described as a deliberate act of violence. According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (2022), Argro arranged to meet Azsia under the claim that he would provide items for their infant daughter. After arriving without the promised items, he allegedly shot Azsia in the head before fleeing the scene.

At the time of her death, Azsia was working to rebuild her life after leaving an abusive relationship. Instead of being able to continue creating a future for herself and her children, she became another victim of femicide, a growing form of gender-based violence affecting women and girls across the world.

Femicide refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender (UN Women, 2025). It is one of the most severe forms of gender-based violence, often connected to  inequality, control, and discrimination. Domestic violence is often a warning sign that can escalate into more severe forms of harm, including femicide. Many survivors experience isolation, fear, financial barriers, and limited access to resources that could help them escape dangerous situations.

According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, intimate partner violence remains a significant threat affecting women in the United States (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2026). Many women who are killed by their partners may have experienced previous abuse, threats, stalking, or other indicators of escalating violence before their deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026). This is why recognizing patterns of abuse, expanding access to support services, and improving systems designed to protect survivors are essential steps in preventing future tragedies.

Femicide is not only a criminal justice issue; it is also a public health concern. Violence against women can result in physical injuries, permanent disabilities, chronic health conditions, trauma, sleep and eating disorders, mental health challenges, and substance misuse (World Health Organization, 2012). Even when a woman survives an attack, the effects of violence can impact her health and well-being for years.

Despite the seriousness of this issue, the United States does not have a standardized federal definition of femicide. Although some jurisdictions and legal systems use the term differently, the lack of consistent classification can make tracking gender-based killings more challenging.

Stories like Azsia’s remind us that violence against women is not an isolated problem. Survivors of gender-based violence also demonstrate the urgent need for protection and prevention. Survivors of gender-based violence also demonstrate the urgent need for prevention and protection. In a recent case reported by NBC 6 South Florida News, a woman allegedly survived an attack by her intimate partner after suffering multiple stab wounds. Her experience highlights the reality that violence against women can happen within relationships that may appear ordinary from the outside.

The violence women face is not limited to one community. Women of color and transgender women experience disproportionately high rates of violence compared with many other groups. Black women and girls, Indigenous women and girls, and transgender women face unique risks that are often overlooked. Women of color and transgender women experience disproportionate levels of violence compared with many other groups (White et al., 2020). Transgender victims may also face additional barriers to recognition and reporting due to limitations in how gender identity is recorded and reported (Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2024).

Ending femicide requires collective action. Even if someone is not a woman, women are part of every community. They are our family members, friends, coworkers, classmates, healthcare providers, leaders, neighbors, and many other important parts of society. Protecting women means protecting the people who make up our communities.

The fight against femicide must include all women, including women of color and transgender women. Every victim deserves to be remembered, and every person deserves access to safety, prevention, and protection.

There are many ways individuals can contribute to change. Participating in local and state elections, supporting organizations that assist survivors, sharing resources, learning the warning signs of abuse, and speaking up against harmful behaviors are all meaningful actions. Protection begins with awareness, but it must continue through commitment and action.

Women like Azsia deserved the opportunity to continue living their lives and pursuing their dreams. While we cannot change what happened to those we have lost, we can work toward preventing more women from becoming victims of femicide. Preventing femicide requires more than remembering victims after tragedy occurs; it requires recognizing warning signs, supporting survivors, and building communities where violence is addressed before it becomes irreversible.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). About Intimate Partner Violence. https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/index.html 

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2026). Domestic Relationships and Violent Crimes, 2020-2024. https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/resources/reports/Domestic%20Relationships%20and%20Violent%20Crimes%202020-2024.pdf 

Human Rights Campaign Foundation. (2024). An epidemic of violence: Fatal violence against transgender and gender-expansive people in the United States. https://reports.hrc.org/an-epidemic-of-violence-2024

Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. (2022). D.A. Bragg: Isaac Argro Sentenced To 25 Years-To-Life For Fatally Shooting Azsia Johnson In Front Of Their Infant. https://manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-isaac-argro-sentenced-to-25-years-to-life-for-fatally-shooting-azsia-johnson-in-front-of-their-infant/ 

NBC 6 South Florida News. (2026). South Florida mother speaks out after surviving 34 stabbing wounds; hopes story helps other victims. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/all-i-wanted-was-to-survive-hialeah-woman-who-was-stabbed-34-times-speaks/3833865/ 

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). (2025). Five essential facts to know about femicide. https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/five-essential-facts-to-know-about-femicide 

White, K., Stuart, F., & Morrissey, S. L. (2020). Whose Lives Matter? Race, Space, and the Devaluation of Homicide Victims in Minority Communities. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332649220948184 

World Health Organization. (2012). Understanding and addressing violence against women. https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/6ff8212c-26e7-40c9-9278-aa4bb4645935/content