The majority of women and girls killed in 2023 were victims of violence by an intimate partner or family member, according to a joint report by United Nations Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
The report revealed that an average of 140 women and girls were killed daily in such circumstances, with an estimated 51,100 victims globally last year — up from 48,800 in 2022, AP reported. The increase reflects improved data collection, not necessarily a rise in killings, the report clarified.
Intimate partner and family violence accounted for nearly 60% of all female homicides in 2023, the report found. By contrast, men and boys — who made up 80% of global homicide victims — were more likely to be killed outside the home.
"Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by lethal violence in the private sphere," the report said, noting, "The home is the most dangerous place for women and girls."
Despite international efforts to combat gender-based violence, the report described the numbers as "alarmingly high."
"Women and girls everywhere continue to be affected by this extreme form of gender-based violence and no region is excluded," the report stated.
Africa recorded the highest number of victims, with 21,700 deaths, and the highest rate relative to population size at 2.9 victims per 100,000 people.
The Americas and Oceania also saw elevated rates, at 1.6 and 1.5 per 100,000 respectively, while Asia and Europe reported lower rates of 0.8 and 0.6 per 100,000.
The findings were released on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
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