Intimate Partner Homicides in Slovenia and their Gender-specific Differences

Abstract

The type of homicide in which gender-specific differences have great significance, indicated by international studies and statistical data for Slovenia, is undoubtedly the one that occurs in heterosexual intimate partner relationships (former or current). The latter suggests that women are significantly more likely than men to experience this type of homicide and it is the leading cause of violent death for women in all parts of the world. In the majority of cases of intimate partner homicides or attempted homicides, female partners have experienced prior domestic violence. Therefore, intimate partner violence is understood as the major risk factor for intimate partner homicide. The research on this typology of homicide and attempted homicide conducted by analyzing criminal court files had shown that there are significant gender-specific differences in dynamics, causes and inducements, which indicates that these crimes should be understood in the context of the unequal distribution of power between men and women in society.