A/HRC/20/16 subordinated them, had to be taken into account. This violence has included torture, sexual abuse, deprivation of liberty, post mortem dismembering and the abandoning of bodies in public spaces by perpetrators (individual or groups), known or unknown to the victim. It is in this specific context that the concept of femicide scenarios was developed to determine the existence of a femicide crime, despite the difficulties of identifying motive, intention and perpetrators.16 25. Parallel to this conceptual discourse, Mexican feminists decided to translate the term femicide directly from its Latin origins as ―feminicidio‖.17 The femicide versus feminicide debate that has taken place in the Latin American context has not been resolved as yet. In the interim, feminists and academics have simply moved past the issue and adopted either or both terms, depending on the country, the context, the campaign or the lobbying target. 18 26. Despite the increasing attention paid to the killings of women, there is little consistency in the normative frameworks used by researchers and service providers. 19 Some scholars propose that a framework which includes the theoretical, political, operative and judicial aspects is useful, as it enables the recognition of multiple intersections of class, ethnicity, race, age, disability, migration, occupation, sexual orientation and gender identity, among others, in the killings of women. 20 27. Other scholars advocate for the use of the notion of continuum as a tool of analysis where reinforcing linkages between different types of violence are complex, contextspecific, and interrelated. This tool integrates a multitude of causal factors at structural, institutional, interpersonal, and individual levels. 21 28. It is argued that the term feminicide could be usefully adopted when holding governments to account at the international level, as it highlights the impunity and the institutional violence aspect of such crimes, which are caused by States‘ acts or omissions. Institutional violence against women and their families is present in all aspects of States‘ responses to the killings of women. This can include: tolerance, the blaming of victims, lack of access to justice and effective remedies, negligence, threats, corruption and abuse by officials.22 Under this scenario, femicide/feminicide is a State crime tolerated by public institutions and officials, due to the inability to prevent, protect and guarantee the lives of women, who have consequently experienced multiple forms of discrimination and violence throughout their lifetime.23 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Carcedo, A. et al. (2010) “We will not forget nor will we accept. Femicide in Central America 2002 – 2006”, Costa Rica. CEFEMINA. They considered that the Spanish use of the word femicide ―femicidio‖ simply referred to the homicide of women. See Monarrez, J. (2008) “Morir por ser mujeres, Femicidio/Feminicidio La Violencia Maxima”. Revista Mujer Salud. El Inventario del Feminicido Juarense. Vol. 4/2008. Chile. Carcedo, A. ―Análisis y diagnósticos de legislación comparada‖. Paper presented at the international conference on ―Violence and Femicide in Bolivia‖, 7, 8, 9 November 2011. La Paz, Bolivia. See Conference report (2009) ―Strengthening Understanding of Femicide. Using research to galvanize action and accountability‖, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), InterCambios, Medical Research Council of South Africa (MRC), and World Health Organization (WHO). Conference held on 14–16 April, 2008. Washington, DC. Supra note 16. Supra note 4. Lagarde, M. (2001), Introduction in“Feminicidio una perspectiva global”. Harmes, R. and D. Russell (eds.) Mexico DF: Centro de Investigaciones Interdisciplinarias en Ciencias y Humanidades, UNAM. Ibid. 7