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Intimate Partner Femicide–Suicide in Eswatini: Offenders, Victims, Incident Characteristics and Sociocultural Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2023

Mensah Adinkrah*
Affiliation:
School of Politics, Society, Justice, and Public Service, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA

Abstract

The current article reports the results of a systematic study of 42 intimate partner femicide–suicides with 91 fatal casualties in Eswatini, Africa, from 2009 to 2022. The study used a media-surveillance methodology to identify the 42 cases from a major local online newspaper. Information on all identified cases was subjected to careful criminological analyses. Six of the cases involved seven collateral, or corollary, homicide victims. Results indicate that assailants and victims were generally of lower socio-economic background; assailants tended to be older than their victims; stabbing with a knife, shooting with a gun and slashing with a machete were the dominant homicide methods; ingestion of weevil tablets and other poisons, hanging and shooting with a firearm were the predominant suicide means. The results further show that femicide incidents overwhelmingly involved overkill, with the assailant using inordinately high levels of aggression against the victim. Male sexual jealousy, rage over the female partner’s abrogation of the relationship, and interpersonal disputes of variable origin were the major precipitants. It is recommended that deterrent sentences should be used to teach wife assaulters and would-be assaulters that society does not tolerate assaultive behaviour within intimate relationships. More resources should be provided for women who are victims of domestic violence. This should include legal aid, financial resources and refuges for women in danger and their children. Measures should be taken to control the proliferation of firearms in society.

Abstracto

Abstracto

El artículo informa los resultados de un estudio sistemático de 42 feminicidios–suicidios de parejas íntimas con 91 víctimas fatales en Eswatini, África, de 2009 a 2022. El estudio utilizó una metodología de vigilancia de los medios para identificar los 42 casos de un importante periódico local en línea. La información sobre todos los casos identificados se sometió a cuidadosos análisis criminológicos. Seis de los casos involucraron a siete víctimas de homicidio colateral o corolario. Los resultados indican que los agresores y las víctimas eran generalmente de nivel socioeconómico más bajo; los agresores tendían a ser mayores que sus víctimas; apuñalar con un cuchillo, disparar con una pistola y cortar con un machete fueron los métodos de homicidio dominantes; la ingestión de tabletas de gorgojo y otros venenos, el ahorcamiento y el disparo con un arma de fuego fueron los medios de suicidio predominantes. Los resultados muestran además que los incidentes de feminicidio involucran abrumadoramente una matanza excesiva, con el agresor usando niveles extraordinariamente altos de agresión contra la víctima. Los principales desencadenantes fueron los celos sexuales masculinos, la ira por la abrogación de la relación por parte de la pareja femenina y las disputas interpersonales de origen variable. Se recomienda que se utilicen sentencias disuasorias para enseñar a los agresores de la esposa y a los posibles agresores que la sociedad no tolera el comportamiento agresivo en las relaciones íntimas. Se deben proporcionar más recursos para las mujeres que son víctimas de violencia doméstica. Esto debe incluir asistencia legal, recursos financieros y refugios para mujeres en peligro y sus hijos para garantizar su seguridad. Se deben tomar medidas para controlar la proliferación de armas de fuego en la sociedad.

Abstrait

Abstrait

Le présent article rapporte les résultats d’une étude systématique de 42 féminicides–suicides de partenaires intimes avec 91 victimes mortelles à Eswatini, en Afrique, de 2009 à 2022. L'étude a utilisé une méthodologie de surveillance des médias pour identifier les 42 cas d’un grand journal local en ligne. Les informations sur tous les cas identifiés ont fait l’objet d’analyses criminologiques minutieuses. Six des cas concernaient sept victimes collatérales ou corollaires d’homicide. Les résultats indiquent que les agresseurs et les victimes appartenaient généralement à un milieu socio-économique défavorisé ; les agresseurs avaient tendance à être plus âgés que leurs victimes ; poignarder avec un couteau, tirer avec une arme à feu et taillader avec une machette étaient les principales méthodes d’homicide ; l’ingestion de comprimés de charançons et d’autres poisons, la pendaison et le tir avec une arme à feu étaient les principaux moyens de suicide. Les résultats montrent en outre que les incidents de fémicide impliquaient de manière écrasante une surpuissance, l’agresseur utilisant des niveaux d’agression excessivement élevés contre la victime. La jalousie sexuelle masculine, la rage suscitée par l’abrogation de la relation par la partenaire féminine et les conflits interpersonnels d’origine variable étaient les principaux facteurs déclenchants. Il est recommandé que des peines dissuasives soient utilisées pour enseigner aux agresseurs et aux agresseurs potentiels que la société ne tolère pas les comportements agressifs dans les relations intimes. Davantage de ressources devraient être fournies aux femmes victimes de violence domestique. Cela devrait inclure une aide juridique, des ressources financières, et des refuges pour les femmes en danger et leurs enfants afin d’assurer leur sécurité. Des mesures doivent être prises pour contrôler la prolifération des armes à feu dans la société.

抽象的

抽象的

当前文章报告了对 2009 年至 2022 年在非洲埃斯瓦蒂尼发生的 42 起亲密伴侣杀害女性自杀事件的系统研究结果,其中 91 人死亡。该研究使用媒体监视方法从当地一家主要在线报纸上识别出 42 起案件. 所有已确定案件的信息都经过仔细的犯罪学分析。 其中 6 起案件涉及 7 名附带或必然的杀人受害者。 结果表明,袭击者和受害者的社会经济背景普遍较低; 袭击者往往比受害者年长; 刀刺、枪击和砍刀砍杀是主要的杀人方式; 服用象鼻虫药片和其他毒药、上吊和用火器射击是主要的自杀方式。 结果进一步表明,杀戮女性事件绝大多数涉及过度杀戮,袭击者对受害者使用了异常高水平的侵略。 男性的性嫉妒、对女性伴侣解除关系的愤怒以及起因不同的人际纠纷是主要的诱因。 建议使用威慑性判决来教育殴打妻子的人和潜在的殴打者社会不容忍亲密关系中的攻击行为。 应为遭受家庭暴力的妇女提供更多资源。 这应包括为处于危险中的妇女及其子女提供法律援助、财政资源和庇护所,以确保他们的安全。应采取措施控制枪支在社会上的扩散。

خلاصة

خلاصة

تشير المقالة الحالية إلى نتائج دراسة منهجية لـ 42 حالة انتحار لشريك حميم مع 91 ضحية قاتلة في إيسواتيني ، إفريقيا ، من 2009 إلى 2022. استخدمت الدراسة منهجية مراقبة وسائل الإعلام لتحديد 42 حالة من صحيفة محلية كبرى على الإنترنت - خضعت المعلومات المتعلقة بجميع الحالات التي تم تحديدها لتحليلات جنائية دقيقة. وشملت ست من هذه الحالات سبع ضحايا جرائم قتل جانبية أو جانبية. وتشير النتائج إلى أن القتلة والضحايا كانوا عمومًا من ذوي الخلفية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية المنخفضة ؛ والقتلة يميلون إلى أن يكونوا أكبر سناً من ضحاياهم ؛ والطعن بالقتل. كانت طرق القتل السائدة هي السكين ، وإطلاق النار بمسدس ، والقطع بالمناجل ؛ وكان تناول أقراص السوسة والسموم الأخرى ، والتعليق ، وإطلاق النار بسلاح ناري هي الوسيلة السائدة للانتحار. وأظهرت النتائج كذلك أن حوادث قتل الإناث تنطوي بشكل كبير على القتل المفرط ، مع استخدام المعتدي مستويات عالية بشكل غير مباشر من العدوان ضد الضحية. الغيرة الجنسية للذكور ، والغضب من فسخ الشريك الأنثى للعلاقة ، والخلافات الشخصية ذات الأصل المتغير كانت من الأسباب الرئيسية للحمل. يوصى بردع عقوبات الإيجار التي ينبغي استخدامها تعليم المعتدين على الزوجات والمعتدين المحتملين أن المجتمع لا يتسامح مع السلوك العدواني في العلاقات الحميمة. يجب توفير المزيد من الموارد للنساء ضحايا العنف المنزلي. وينبغي أن يشمل ذلك المساعدة القانونية والموارد المالية واللاجئين للرجل المعرض للخطر و الأطفال لضمان سلامتهم. يجب اتخاذ تدابير للسيطرة على انتشار الأسلحة النارية في المجتمع.

Type
Article
Copyright
© International Society of Criminology, 2023

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