30 women and girls ‘violently’ killed in Canada so far in 2026: femicide observatory

Bill C-16
In December 2025, the federal government renewed its commitment to ending gender-based violence when it allocated $223.4 million over five years starting in 2026–27, with $44.7 million ongoing to strengthen federal action in response.

Bill C-16 was introduced the same month, aiming to strengthen protections for victims and introducing the term “femicide” into the Criminal Code of Canada. The bill seeks to classify these killings as first-degree murder in the Code.

The observatory was one of several organizations that had been advocating for the term “femicide” to be included in the Criminal Code for almost a decade.

“A femicide means that women are killed in distinct ways but there’s often similar precursors,” Dawson said.

“The killing of women and girls is distinct from the killing of men and boys, and we need to recognize that distinction in order to have more nuanced prevention.”

Dawson says having the term femicide legally recognized is the first step in ensuring proper awareness, prevention and action.

Link to full story here.