Feminism, Femicide, and DEI: Reflecting on the Death of Rebecca Cheptegei

The recent tragic death of Rebecca Cheptegei in Uganda has left many grappling with a familiar, painful reality: violence against women continues to plague societies across the globe. While the circumstances of her death are harrowing, they also serve as a stark reminder that issues like femicide and gender-based violence are not isolated feminist concerns. These are DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) issues that must be recognized and addressed with the gravity they deserve.

Why Feminism and Femicide Are DEI Issues

DEI, at its core, is about ensuring that all individuals—regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, or other identities—can live, work, and thrive in environments that are just, safe, and inclusive. When we talk about the tragic loss of women like Rebecca Cheptegei, we must remember that the systems of violence that disproportionately impact women are not only feminist issues but also matters of diversity and equity.

Rebecca’s death reflects the broader issue of **femicide**—the intentional killing of women simply because they are women. While it may seem like an extreme case, femicide is unfortunately part of a global pattern of violence against women. According to the UN, approximately **87,000 women were killed in 2017** alone, and more than half of these deaths were due to intimate partner or family-related violence.

The Intersectionality of Gender-Based Violence

The DEI lens encourages us to consider how identities intersect—how being a woman, especially in marginalized communities, increases the likelihood of experiencing violence, discrimination, and death. In Rebecca’s case, being a Black African woman further layers the structural inequalities she likely faced throughout her life.

From pay disparities to barriers in accessing education, healthcare, and safety, women, particularly those from racialized or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, are disproportionately affected by systemic inequities. The violence they endure is often an extension of these inequities, compounded by cultural, societal, and governmental failures to protect them.

The Cultural Context and Global Feminism

In countries like Uganda, where Rebecca lived, patriarchal systems continue to play a significant role in silencing women and perpetuating violence against them. These systemic issues of patriarchy, gender-based violence, and lack of legal protection extend far beyond the country's borders. Whether in Uganda or elsewhere, the struggle for women's safety is a global feminist issue, but it’s also a DEI issue that requires more attention in conversations about systemic inequality.

Often, the intersection between DEI and feminism gets overlooked. Feminism isn’t just about gender—it’s about acknowledging how systems of power, privilege, and oppression impact everyone differently. DEI work demands that we look beyond surface-level indicators and confront how gender inequality feeds into larger structural inequities.

Femicide in Workplace DEI Conversations

While it may seem as though femicide is a distant issue from the workplace or corporate DEI efforts, the reality is that the norms and values that enable gender-based violence are often cultivated in everyday environments. Workplace policies, cultural norms, and leadership dynamics play a critical role in shaping broader societal attitudes about gender. If a workplace doesn't actively promote equity and challenge toxic masculinity or sexism, it contributes to an ecosystem that enables violence against women.

As we work towards creating more equitable environments in organizations, we must not overlook the need to foster **safe spaces** for women. This includes **zero-tolerance policies** on sexual harassment, actively promoting gender diversity in leadership, and addressing wage gaps and promotion disparities. But beyond corporate metrics, it's about committing to the broader cause of gender justice, which has direct implications for the safety and wellbeing of women everywhere.

DEI as a Catalyst for Change

Rebecca Cheptegei’s death calls upon us to reflect on the progress we’ve made, but more importantly, it pushes us to ask: where have we failed? The pursuit of DEI must extend beyond workplace diversity initiatives to the very structures that define how safe, equitable, and inclusive our societies are. Feminism, and by extension the fight against femicide, is integral to DEI work.

True diversity, equity, and inclusion mean fighting for the rights of the most marginalized among us. If we fail to include the fight against femicide and gender-based violence in our DEI efforts, we perpetuate a form of exclusion that leaves half the population behind.

We must ensure that Rebecca's story and the stories of countless other women who have suffered are not forgotten. By broadening our understanding of what DEI encompasses—gender equity, safety, and the right to exist free from violence—we can work toward a future where the tragic loss of women like Rebecca is no longer a regular occurrence, but a thing of the past.

Let’s work to ensure that DEI is not just about the optics of diversity, but about creating a world where **everyone** can live free of violence and oppression. And that includes standing up against femicide.

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In memory of Rebecca Cheptegei, let us commit to creating a safer, more just world for all women.