Valeria Márquez was a 23-year-old Mexican beauty influencer who tragically lost her life during a TikTok livestream on May 13, 2025. The incident occurred at Blossom the Beauty Lounge in Zapopan, Jalisco, where she was fatally shot while broadcasting to her nearly 200,000 followers. In her final moments, she reportedly said, “Ya vienen” (“They are coming”), just before the stream abruptly ended.
Before her death, Márquez had expressed concerns about her safety on social media, mentioning receiving a costly gift from an unknown person, which raised her apprehension.
Although the presence of private security and the tidiness of its streets give the impression that Zapopan, the location of the salon where Márquez was shot at least twice before fleeing, in reality, it is one of the most violent municipalities in Jalisco. In fact, shootings regularly occur in the area's luxurious shopping centres, and Jalisco ranks sixth among Mexico's 32 states, including Mexico City, in terms of homicides. According to the state of Jalisco, as many as 90% of crimes are never reported or investigated.
While the prosecutor's office said that so far they have no reason to suspect that Márquez's murder was ordered or carried out by any of the organised criminal groups operating in the area, Mexican media outlets had previously published messages in which Márquez blamed her ex-partner if anything happened to her.
However, the office suggested the murderer may have been a femicide.
What is Femicide?
Femicide or feminicide is the intentional murder of women or girls because of their gender. In domestic fields, 50% of all femicides are committed by male intimate partners or by male family members of the woman or girl.
Femicide is broadly defined as the killing of a woman or girl because of her gender, and can take different forms, such as the murder of women as a result of intimate partner violence; the torture and misogynist slaying of women; killing of women and girls in the name of “honour”; etc.
According to the United Nation’s (UN) data, the highest number of victims of intimate partner/family member femicide was recorded in Africa in 2023 with 21,700 (18,600–24,600) victims, followed by Asia with 18,500 (16,200–20,700), the Americas with 8,300 (8,100–8,500), Europe with 2,300 (2,100–2,400) and Oceania with 300 (282–420) victims.
Interestingly, Mexico has one of the world's highest femicide rates, with as many as 3% of murder victims classified as femicides.
Facts about femicide:
Here are five essential facts about femicide, based on recent data from UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Femicide is a global crisis: In 2023, approximately 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed worldwide. Of these, 60% (around 51,000) were murdered by intimate partners or family members, highlighting femicide as a pervasive global issue.
Home is often the most dangerous place: The majority of femicides occur within the domestic sphere. In regions like Europe and the Americas, over half of the female homicides are committed by intimate partners, while in other areas, family members are the primary perpetrators.
Africa faces the highest rates: Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide in 2023, with an estimated 21,700 victims. This underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions in the region.
Data gaps mask the true scale: Despite the alarming figures, the actual number of femicides is likely higher due to significant data gaps. In 2023, only 37 countries reported data on intimate partner and family-related femicides, a sharp decline from 75 countries in 2020.
Femicide is preventable: The United Nations emphasizes that violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable. Addressing femicide requires robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, and increased funding for women's rights organizations.
How to prevent femicides?
Preventing femicides requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that addresses the root causes of gender-based violence, supports survivors, and holds perpetrators accountable. The following are key strategies and actions recommended by global organizations and implemented in various regions:
Strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement: Implementing and enforcing laws that criminalize all forms of gender-based violence, including femicide, and ensuring perpetrators are held accountable. Establishing specialized units within law enforcement and the judiciary to handle cases of femicide and gender-based violence with sensitivity and expertise.
Supporting and empowering survivors: Providing accessible services for survivors, including shelters, legal aid, counseling, and healthcare. Implementing programs that support victims by allowing them to remain in their homes while removing perpetrators, thereby enhancing safety and stability.
Community mobilization and public awareness: Engaging communities in prevention efforts through education and spearheading awareness campaigns that challenge harmful gender norms and promote respect for women's rights. Supporting grassroots organizations that work to prevent violence and support survivors, recognizing their critical role in driving change.
Education and social norms change: Promoting gender equality through education at all levels, challenging stereotypes, and encouraging respectful relationships. Implementing programs that engage men and boys in discussions about healthy masculinity and non-violent behavior.
Data collection and research: Collecting and analyzing data on femicides and other forms of gender-based violence to inform policies and measure progress. Investing in research to understand the causes and consequences of femicide, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based and effective.
International cooperation and advocacy: Supporting international frameworks that aim to eliminate violence against women, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Advocating for global commitments to end femicide and hold governments accountable for their obligations to protect women's rights.
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