Sweden's Moderate Party proposes femicide as new crime classification

Sweden's Moderate Party is advocating for the introduction of "femicide" as a distinct criminal offense, proposing a mandatory life sentence for perpetrators. The party's proposal aims to specifically address the killing of women because of their gender, a phenomenon they describe as a persistent societal problem and a "constant failure" of the community.

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We want the person who murders a woman because she is a woman to be locked up for life.

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that by clearly defining femicide, the legal system can better expose the violence, the motives, and the destructive societal patterns leading to these crimes. She believes this explicit classification will bring greater attention to the issue and provide a sense of justice for victims and their families, noting that the current legal framework is insufficient.

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Through clearly defining the background of the crime in the classification itself, we can highlight the violence, the motives, and the destructive patterns in our society that lead to this crime.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer acknowledged that some countries implementing femicide classifications have faced criticism regarding vague definitions. However, he stressed the party's commitment to developing a clear and legally secure framework that is practically applicable. If the Moderates continue to govern Sweden after the next election, Strömmer indicated that a government investigation would be initiated to lay the groundwork for such legislation.

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We don't think it's enough. It is approximately the same number (of women) who are murdered every year. That is precisely why we really want to distinguish this to give it greater attention, so that victims and their relatives receive justice.

Several European countries, including Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, and Malta, have already established femicide as a specific legal category. The Moderate Party's push in Sweden aligns with these international efforts to more precisely define and prosecute gender-based killings, seeking to enhance both legal recognition and preventative measures.

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We have a strong interest in formulating this in a clear and legally sound way and so that it can be used in practice, otherwise it will not fulfill its purpose.