Five women killed in five months: should Finland criminalise femicide?

At least 11 women have been killed in Finland so far this year, with a woman dying on average every two weeks, according to Yle. The rate is higher per capita than in other Nordic countries.

In most cases, the suspected perpetrator was the victim’s current or former partner. Motives remain unknown in some investigations.

Femicide—defined as the killing of women because of their gender, often driven by misogyny, control, or discrimination—is a distinct crime in countries like Italy, Cyprus, and Croatia. In Italy, it carries a life sentence when motivated by hatred, control, or a woman’s refusal of a man’s demands.

Finnish law already allows for aggravated sentencing if a crime is motivated by gender, but this provision is rarely applied. Experts are divided on whether Finland should introduce femicide as a separate offence.

Minna Pilviö, a lawyer, argues Finland is lagging behind and should follow Italy’s example, citing this year’s statistics as evidence of insufficient action against domestic violence. She believes a specific femicide law would send a strong societal signal.

Defence lawyer Kaarle Gummerus opposes the idea, stating that existing laws already cover gender-based motives as an aggravating factor. He questions why this provision is not used more often, rather than debating new legislation.

Minna Kimpimäki, a professor of criminal law at the University of Lapland, also opposes a separate femicide law, arguing that current legislation is sufficient. She notes that while Finnish criminal law has been criticised for poorly addressing repeated gender-based violence, its gender-neutral approach is considered a significant strength.

Pilviö acknowledges that prosecutors in her cases have actively invoked the aggravating circumstance, but she believes a distinct crime of femicide would reinforce societal seriousness. Gummerus says he cannot recall a case where the gender-based aggravating factor was applied and suggests prosecutors should demand its use more frequently.