Femicide, also called feminicide, refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender, or killings in which women or girls are disproportionately targeted. It can include killings connected to domestic violence or coercive control, and may be underreported.

The term is significant in debates about violence against women and the laws used to investigate and punish such killings. In Cameroon, the Penal Code does not explicitly define femicide as a distinct offense, according to the news report. The government is working on a bill that would establish it as a standalone crime and strengthen protections against gender-based violence.