Recent studies and reports shed light on the complex issue of femicide in Germany, revealing that most cases occur within intimate relationships, often driven by jealousy, possessiveness, and sexist motives. A study analyzing 292 cases from five German states in 2017 found that two-thirds of female homicides were femicides, with 74 cases showing clear sexist motivation. The majority of these crimes (81%) involved partners, frequently following disputes over separation or infidelity, and were committed across all social strata, often with offenders exhibiting mental health issues or substance abuse. The majority of perpetrators (two-thirds) and victims (over 80%) were German nationals, though migrant women are overrepresented, indicating patriarchal structures rather than imported problems. Researchers emphasize that current police statistics may overestimate femicide numbers because they include all female homicides regardless of motive, whereas true femicide involves gender-based motives like control or revenge. The study advocates for recognizing sexism as a specific murder factor and reforming legal definitions to better address gender-based violence. Commonly, femicides are preceded by violence and involve sexist attitudes, with many cases linked to conflicts over relationship status, highlighting the need for targeted prevention measures such as anti-violence training and specialized courts. Experts warn that societal normalization of male violence and ingrained sexism hinder efforts to reduce femicide, which remains a significant obstacle to gender equality in Germany.