PROFILING OF FEMICIDE VICTIMS IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PERPETRATOR (2017–2025)

Abstract

Femicide, defined as the killing of women because of their gender, represents the most extreme form of gender-based violence against women. In most cases, the perpetrator is a male person who is in a close relationship with the victim, most often an intimate partner or a family member. Femicide does not occur suddenly and, therefore, should not be viewed as an isolated act, but rather as the final outcome of prolonged violence and disturbed relationships between the victim and the perpetrator.The subject of this research is the analysis of the characteristics of femicide victims in the Republic of North Macedonia during the period from 2017 to 2025, as well as their relationship with the perpetrator. The research focuses on the basic social and demographic characteristics of the victims and on the nature of their relationship with the perpetrator prior to the commission of the crime. The analysis is not conducted in terms of the victim’s contribution to the criminal offense, but aims to provide a better understanding of the circumstances preceding femicide and to identify the factors that lead to its occurrence.The purpose of this paper is to identify certain typical characteristics in the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator that may be significant for early risk recognition and for the improvement of preventive mechanisms. The research is based on the analysis of court practice and relevant sources, with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the phenomenon of femicide in the Republic of North Macedonia.