Evaluation of female children and adolescents murdered in Türkiye between 2010 and 2024

Med Sci Law. 2026 Jul 22:258024261471840. doi: 10.1177/00258024261471840. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the demographic and criminological characteristics of femicide cases involving girls under the age of 18 in Türkiye. Data were obtained from publicly available sources, including ‘https://kadincinayetlerinidurduracagiz.net/’, ‘https://anitsayac.com‘ and national and local media reports. Cases of girls and adolescents under 18 who were killed between 2010 and 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages. A total of 254 victims were identified over the 15-year period. The mean age was 11.72 ± 5.27 years, and 5.5% (n = 14) were married. The vast majority of perpetrators were male (n = 240, 94.5%). Fathers (n = 96, 37.8%) and strangers (n = 36, 14.2%) were the most frequent perpetrators. Most victims were killed at home (n = 199, 78.3%), and more than half (53.1%) were killed with a firearm. The leading motives included rape (n = 23, 9.1%) and preventing the child from being left alone (n = 23, 9.1%). The findings highlight that firearms were the most common method of killing, and that intrafamilial femicide – particularly by fathers – represents a major risk for girls in Türkiye. Urgent measures are needed to strengthen firearm regulations and to enhance child protection mechanisms against family-based violence. Further research is warranted to inform prevention strategies targeting the killing of girls and adolescents.

PMID:42484454 | DOI:10.1177/00258024261471840