Trigger warning: descriptions of violence and murder follow.
Femicide
As a reporter for Heart of the Netherlands Monsma regularly comes across the saddest stories. “The murders are often seen as isolated incidents, but it happens very often and there is a clear pattern.” She therefore decided to make a podcast about femicide in the Netherlands.
Both relatives and victims have their say in the episodes. “They all want to create more awareness in society.” The women who survived an attack tell their stories to Monsma anonymously, for their own safety. “They would like to talk about it to encourage and warn other people,” the podcast maker explains.
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Impact
The stories that are discussed are intense, but very important to tell, says Monsma. “I feel very sorry for the people it happened to, but also for the people who have to move on without their daughter or sister.” She sees how much impact the murder or attempted murder still has on the people she spoke to. “Survivors still live in fear and relatives are sometimes left with questions and anger for the rest of their lives.”
