4 months Ago
Recent Cases Highlight Ongoing Danger
This week, 39-year-old Jouweela from Eindhoven was shot and killed in Gouda by her ex-husband, Driekus K. He found her at a women's shelter where she was hiding with their two children. The attack happened on the street in front of the children. After killing Jouweela, Driekus K. left the scene and then took his own life. He had a violent past, including a conviction for attempting to murder another ex-partner. He was also recently arrested for weapons possession and assaulting Jouweela, but was released after two weeks.
On the same week, another woman was killed in a violent incident at her home in Vlijmen, Noord-Brabant. Police arrested a 35-year-old man from Uden, but details about the case are still unknown.
Understanding the Causes and Warning Signs
Jouweela's decision to seek protection was a courageous step that many women in abusive relationships hesitate to take. Research shows that in many femicide cases, authorities and communities are unaware of how severe the problems between the woman and the man are. On average, a woman reports domestic violence only after 33 incidents have already taken place.
Research into femicide—murders motivated by the victim's gender—shows important warning signs. Men who kill their wives or girlfriends often threaten to harm themselves or others, including pets or children. Addiction can also be a factor. These men usually want to control the woman's actions because they fear losing power or status.
Domestic abuse often develops slowly. For example, a man may demand a text message with a photo every ten minutes to monitor his partner's whereabouts. About 200,000 people in the Netherlands experience this kind of intimate terror. When a woman tries to leave such a relationship, it can lead to stalking or, tragically, murder.
The steady number of femicides may be linked to changes in women's roles in society. Some men react to women's independence by trying to regain old forms of control. When they cannot do this through education or income, some turn to violence.
Authorities and social workers cannot solve femicide alone. The solution requires society as a whole to break the silence around domestic violence. Men need to respect women's space to grow and reduce the importance placed on status within relationships.
