On 27 November, the JASON Institute Activities Committee organized a film screening and panel discussion at Filmhuis Den Haag to examine the realities of femicide and the broader patterns of gender-based violence. Following the screening of the short film “Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado,” experts Luma Andrade, Esmée Ilisia Turpijn, Lidewij Baart, and Dr. Martín Hernán Di Marco participated in a moderated discussion exploring the structural, cultural, and personal dimensions of this form of violence.
Luma Andrade began by reflecting on the Brazilian context, highlighting the gap between existing laws and their enforcement. While strong laws exist, she noted that access to justice remains fragile, especially in rural areas and communities where powerful men protect each other. Luma explained that gendered violence rarely starts with a single incident; instead, it develops gradually through everyday aggressions that become socially accepted. Drawing from her own experience, she emphasized that supporting women requires more than just legal frameworks. Women need education, skills, independence, and community support to rebuild their lives. Her remarks highlighted that femicide is the result of a long process in which violence is normalized and institutions often fail to act.
Esmée Ilisia Turpijn brought the discussion to the Dutch context, highlighting the inconsistent ways institutions respond to domestic violence and risk signals. Based on interviews and ongoing research for the Dutch Femicide Monitor, she observed significant disparities in how victims are treated. Women living in more affluent neighbourhoods often receive faster and more attentive responses, while others struggle to be heard. Esmée stressed the need to look beyond the immediate incident and pay attention to patterns of escalation. She also highlighted the often-forgotten group of children who lose their mothers to femicide. These children face unclear legal pathways, emotional trauma, and financial instability, yet remain largely invisible in current policy debates. Her contribution emphasized that the harms of femicide extend far beyond the fatal moment itself.
Lidewij Baart, representing the feminist collective Dolle Mina, spoke about the broader cultural and political environment surrounding gender-based violence in the Netherlands. She noted a resurgence of issues such as psychological abuse and coercive control, which are increasingly recognised but insufficiently addressed. She also expressed concern about the influence of the online “manosphere,” where misogynistic attitudes are reinforced and normalized. Lidewij argued that institutional failures are not isolated incidents; rather, they form a repeating pattern where warning signs are missed or minimized. This pattern, she suggested, reflects a structural problem that places women at continued risk. Her intervention underscored the importance of feminist activism in calling attention to these failures and demanding accountability.
Dr. Martín Hernán Di Marco provided a comparative and research-driven perspective on the roots of perpetrator behaviour. Drawing from his work on masculinity and life-course analysis, he highlighted how violent behaviour develops over time, shaped by cultural norms, social expectations, and personal histories. While acknowledging that terms like machismo are often associated with Latin America, he emphasized that similar forms of gendered entitlement and control appear in European contexts, including the Netherlands. Martín noted that although cultural expressions differ, the structural drivers of femicide are remarkably consistent across societies. His framing helped situate Dutch cases within a wider global pattern, demonstrating that gender-based violence is not confined to specific regions but reflects shared systemic dynamics.
The discussion as a whole highlighted how the film’s portrayal of everyday and extreme violence reflects broader societal realities. Rather than presenting abstract theories, the speakers drew attention to lived experiences, institutional blind spots, and the cultural norms that shape gendered harm. Their combined perspectives emphasised the need to address femicide not only through legal or criminal frameworks, but through sustained cultural change, improved institutional coordination, and community-level engagement.
Overall, the event underscored several key themes: the importance of centering real stories in understanding violence; the systemic nature of institutional shortcomings; the responsibility of media in shaping public perceptions; the invisibility of children affected by femicide; and the shared global roots of gender-based violence despite cultural differences. In line with the goals of NAP 1325, the evening reaffirmed the need for coordinated efforts across activism, research, policy, and community initiatives to address the structural conditions that allow femicide to persist.
