Femicide perpetrators in Switzerland are often over 50, study finds

Femicides in Switzerland are increasingly being committed by perpetrators over the age of 50, a trend highlighted by recent cases in Ticino and Thurgau where the suspected authors were both older than 50. These victims add to a grim tally, with 17 women already killed this year in Switzerland due to their gender, according to the Stop Femizid research project. In the majority of these tragic instances, the suspect is an ex- or current partner, suggesting a pattern of intimate partner violence escalating to fatal outcomes.

The year 2026 appears set to see a high number of femicides, potentially surpassing the 27 recorded last year. This trend is further contextualized by a new scientific study from the University of St. Gallen. While the absolute number of femicides has remained relatively stable over the past three decades, their proportion relative to all homicides has notably increased. This suggests a societal shift where violence against women within intimate relationships is becoming a more prominent feature of overall homicide statistics.

Nora Markwalder, a professor of criminal law and criminologist involved in the study, expressed concern over this development. Analyzing hundreds of court files from 1990 to 2024, her research indicates a concerning societal dynamic. "We are becoming more lenient towards men, but not towards women," she stated, lamenting the growing proportion of femicides. This observation points to a complex interplay of societal attitudes, legal frameworks, and the persistent issue of gender-based violence within domestic settings.

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We are becoming more lenient towards men, but not towards women