The study will contribute to EIGE’s efforts to strengthen the capacity of the institutional response to violence against women, namely femicide. EIGE aims to support EU Member States in improving the institutional response by focusing on the role and rights of the victims in the criminal proceedings for femicide, and the duty of the States to investigate, prosecute, punish and provide reparation.

The overall objective of the study is to improve the institutional response, by identifying the gaps within and between law and in practice when providing justice to victims of femicide.

The specific objectives of this study are:

— to improve investigation and prosecution in cases of femicide;

— to strengthen the role and rights of victims in criminal proceedings and ensure their access to reparation.

The study will apply a gender-sensitive and victim-centred approach and will also examine the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on institutional responses to femicide.