Femicide is defined as the act of killing a woman simply because she is a woman. Acts of feminicide include “honor killings,” “dowry deaths,” genital mutilation, war rape, and victimization of refugee women. The treatment of detained women and detained immigrants is also linked to the issue of femicide. In essence, femicide is a form of gender-based violence (Stuart van Wormer & Bartollas, 2011). It is considered an extreme form of gender-based violence which can include torture, mutilation, cruelty and sexual violence. The violence often resulted in murder. This violence is linked to gender concepts such as inequality, discrimination and powerlessness (Femicide, 2008). It is also considered “a form of terrorism that functions to define gender distinctions, establish and reinforce male dominance, and render women chronically and profoundly dangerous” (Suarez, 2009). Under federal and state international law, women have the right to be free from violence. Overall, acts of femicide are considered a violation of women's human rights (Femicide, 2008). The main difficulty with domestic violence against women and girls is that such acts are culturally sanctioned. This attachment to culture makes its prevention and control difficult. Attempts to control such practices may be seen as a violation of cultural norms, or even an attack on cultural identity. Are people simply ethnocentric about such practices, denouncing them because they are not normal by other people's standards? There are many things to consider when attempting to control a cultural practice. Consideration of the cultural relevance of cultural practice is part of this. The World Health Organization (WHO), which offers data relating to gender equality...... middle of article....... (2011). Women and the Criminal Justice System, Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Suarez, J. (2009). Guatemala Human Rights Commission/US Fact Sheet on Femicide and Feminicide. Retrieved from http://www.ghrc-usa.org/Programs/ForWomensRighttoLive/factsheet_femicide.pdfReferences:Causes and risk factors. (2008). Excerpted from Stop Violence Against Women: http://stopvaw.org/Causes_Contributing_Factors.htmlFemicide. (2008). Retrieved from Stop Violence Against Women: http://stopvaw.org/Femicide.html Stuart Van Wormer, K. & Bartollas, C. (2011). Women and the Criminal Justice System, Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Suarez, J. (2009). Guatemala Human Rights Commission/US Fact Sheet on Femicide and Feminicide. Retrieved from http://www.ghrc-usa.org/Programs/ForWomensRighttoLive/factsheet_femicide.pdf