Analysis of Violence Triangle on The Issue of Femicide in the Republic of Honduras (2013-2022)

Abstract

This study explores the issue of femicide in Honduras between 2013 and 2022 using the violence triangle framework. Femicide is the deliberate killing driven by gender-related motivations. Cultural, structural, and direct violence are explored as key dimensions. Cultural violence, manifested through religious, ideological, and linguistic factors, perpetuates gender inequality. Structural violence is manifested in the prohibition of abortion and the misallocation of health resources, thereby increasing women's vulnerability; marginalisation and under-representation contribute even further. Direct violence includes visible acts such as aggression and killing. Despite the enactment of femicide law in 2013, Honduras is struggling to ensure women's safety and autonomy. By exposing the interaction of cultural, structural and direct violence through the concept of the violence triangle, this study provides a comprehensive perspective to understand femicide in Honduras. Gender-based violence, rooted in cultural norms and intensified by structural weaknesses, emerged as the driving force behind the killing of women. This study provides a complete view of the three factors contributing to femicide in Honduras.