What is a ‘femicide’ and why do some advocates and police want it in the Criminal Code?

In a rare move, the Ottawa Police Service is using the term “femicide” to describe the motivation investigators believe to be behind the killing of a 47-year-old mother.

It’s believed to be the first time a police force in Canada has used the word in the context of a murder investigation where evidence is still being gathered.

Advocates who focus on eradicating violence against women hope this will spur other police agencies to do the same and pave the way for legislation to entrench “femicide” into the criminal code of Canada. Link to story here.