Femicide in Spain, Portugal and Italy : data review from 2004 to 2016

Intimate femicide, the intentional killing of women by male partners, is the most common form of femicide. It is the aim of this study to identify and analyze the situation of intimate femicide committed by partners or ex-partners in Spain, Portugal and Italy. The article offers, for the first time, an overview of the situation in three countries specifically taking into account the data available about intimate femicide during the period 2004-2016. The rates of intimate femicide are lower in countries where policy development and data collection are comparatively more consistent over time with higher prevalence of intimate femicide in Portugal, twice as many cases as in Spain and Italy. Finally, the study highlights the reasons why femicide data is relevant. [Publishers' text].