Amnesty Senegal Urges New Law Against Femicide After Astou Pierre Death

In 2026, Amnesty International Sénégal, through its representative Oumy Sadio Sow, publicly denounced a critical failure in protection mechanisms for women and called for the urgent enactment of a specific law against femicide, following the death of Astou Pierre, who was tragically burned with acid by her ex-boyfriend in an incident presented as the 11th publicized case of femicide that year in Senegal.

This development carries significant legal weight for practitioners and the public, as it highlights a perceived inadequacy in the existing legal framework and state response to gender-based violence. The call for a dedicated femicide law suggests that current provisions under the Senegalese Penal Code, which may cover murder or assault, are not deemed sufficient to address the specific nature and prevalence of gender-motivated killings. The denunciation of a