1 woman killed by partner or family member every 10 minutes, UN report shows
At least 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed in 2023, most of them by family members, according to figures published by the UN on Monday, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
“The home remains the most dangerous place for women, with 60 per cent of them having been victims of their spouse or other family members,” according to the report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women. The number represents 140 women or girls killed every day by a family member or partner, or one every 10 minutes.
The report describes this as a phenomenon that transcends borders and affects all social categories and age groups, with the Caribbean, Central America and Africa most affected, ahead of Asia.
Violence reported
The UNODC analysed figures collected in 107 countries for its report. On the American continent and in Europe, the majority of femicides are perpetrated by partners, while in the rest of the world family members are most often the perpetrators.
Many victims report physical, sexual or psychological violence before their death. This suggests that many murders could be prevented, the study says, for example through court injunctions.
"The home remains the most dangerous place for women"
In regions where it is possible to establish a trend, the femicide rate has stagnated or declined only slightly since 2010, demonstrating that this form of violence “is rooted in practices and norms” and is difficult to eradicate.
Despite efforts made in several countries, “femicide remains at an alarming level”, the authors say.
“The new femicide report highlights the urgent need for strong criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable, while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms,” said Ghada Waly, executive director of UNODC.
Harmful norms
“At the same time, we must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women.”
Meanwhile, a banner was hung at the Brussels Justice Palace on Monday morning to demand justice for survivors of sexual violence by the Front féministeS of the collective Ades.
The group calls for work to raise “immediate and collective awareness of the systemic failings that allow male violence to continue and victims to be forgotten”.
Around 2,500 people took part in a rally in Brussels on Sunday afternoon to denounce violence against women. Speeches before the start of the rally called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but also focused on gender-based violence in health professions.
Crowds march in Paris in a rally against sexual and gender-based violence and for equality and women's rights, 23 November 2024 © PHOTO TELMO PINTO / SOPA IMAGES / SIPA USA
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