A recent report released by UN Women and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime sheds light on the concerning prevalence of gender-based violence against women worldwide. The report, unveiled on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, revealed that the home is the most dangerous place for women and girls, with an average of 140 women and girls being killed by intimate partners or family members each day in 2023.
According to the report, approximately 51,100 women and girls fell victim to intimate partner or family member violence last year, marking an increase from the previous year. The rise in reported cases was attributed to improved data collection rather than a surge in actual killings.
The report emphasized that no region is immune to this form of violence, with Africa recording the highest number of intimate partner and family killings in 2023, followed by the Americas and Oceania. Rates of such violence were notably lower in Asia and Europe.
While men constitute the majority of homicide victims globally, women are disproportionately affected by lethal violence within the private sphere. Nearly 60% of all women intentionally killed in 2023 were victims of intimate partner or family member homicide.
The report underscored the preventable nature of these killings, stating that they often result from repeated episodes of gender-based violence that could be averted through timely and effective interventions. Despite ongoing efforts by countries to address this issue, the report highlighted that the levels of violence against women remain alarmingly high.
UN Women and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime called for continued action to combat gender-based violence and protect women and girls from harm, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
