At least 40 women were killed in Mozambique in 2025 in cases linked to gender-based violence, out of a total of 18,365 reported incidents, according to government data released this week.
The figures were presented by Abdul Esmail, Secretary of State for Gender and Social Action, during the launch of a national campaign to combat gender-based violence and femicide in Maputo.
“These numbers are not just statistics—they represent lives, stories, and futures cut short. They are an urgent call to action,” Esmail said.
According to the government, around 79% of reported cases involved women and girls, highlighting the disproportionate impact of violence on female victims. The 40 recorded deaths underscore what officials describe as the persistence of the most extreme forms of abuse.
Read more: Portugal: anxiety affects 39.4% of population in 2025
The newly launched campaign, set to run for one year, could lead to significant legal reforms. Authorities are considering revising the country’s Penal Code and potentially introducing specific legislation to criminalize femicide. The review may also include updates to existing domestic violence laws.
Esmail stressed that broader legal changes may be necessary if current frameworks prove insufficient. “We cannot and must not accept that women continue to die simply for being women,” he said, urging society to support efforts to strengthen protections.
Despite some progress, officials acknowledged ongoing challenges, pointing to what they described as a “brutal escalation” in violent acts against women and girls.
Earlier this year, President Daniel Chapo warned that rising levels of gender-based violence pose a serious obstacle to the country’s development.
Read more: Mozambique: President calls for unity and prayers for flood and terrorism victims
In March, a group of around 1,000 Mozambican women also called for the formal recognition of femicide as a distinct crime, alongside stronger legal measures against domestic abuse, sexual violence, and harassment, as well as greater judicial specialization and economic independence for courts.
