At least 85,000 women and young girls were intentionally killed globally in 2023, most often by their partners, relatives, or close acquaintances, according to figures released by the United Nations. The report highlights an “alarming level” of preventable killings.
“The home remains the most dangerous place for women,” according to a joint report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women. The report notes that 60% of female victims were murdered by their partners or other family members.
This translates to 140 women or girls killed each day, or one every 10 minutes.
The phenomenon transcends borders, affecting all social classes and age groups. However, it is most prevalent in the Caribbean, Central America, and Africa, followed by Asia.
In the Americas and Europe, most femicides are committed by intimate partners. In other parts of the world, first-degree relatives are often the perpetrators.
Many victims had reported experiencing physical, sexual, or psychological abuse prior to their deaths, according to available data from several countries, including France. This underscores that many of these murders could have been prevented through measures such as court-ordered restraining orders.
In regions where trends can be identified, femicide rates have remained stagnant or have slightly declined since 2010. This suggests that such violence is deeply rooted in societal norms and practices, making it challenging to eradicate, the UNODC explains based on data from 107 countries.
Despite ongoing efforts in several nations, femicide persists at alarmingly high levels, according to the report’s authors. However, it is not inevitable, emphasizes UN Women Director Sima Bahous, urging countries to strengthen legal frameworks and improve data collection to combat this crisis effectively.
