International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women The report, released on the UN’s 25th anniversary, highlights the global crisis of ‘femicide’, the gender-based killing of women and girls, and calls for urgent action.
“The epidemic of violence against women and girls brings shame to humanity,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the event.
“The world needs to heed this call. We need immediate action and support for justice and accountability.”
The report was released at the start of the annual 16-day activism drive from November 25 to December 10.
This year, United’s campaign theme is “A woman is killed every 10 minutes”, to draw attention to the alarming rise in violence against women. #There are no excuses. Let us unite to end violence against women.”
Regional disparity, universal problem
Femicide, the gender-based killing of women and girls, crosses borders, socioeconomic status and culture. But its intensity may vary according to different regions.
Intimate partner violence and domestic violence recorded the highest rates of femicide in Africa, the report said.
21 thousand 700 women were killed here in 2023. After that comes America and Oceania.
In Europe and the United States, 64 percent and 58 percent of femicides were reported, respectively, with most victims killed by their intimate partners.
In contrast, women in Africa and Asia were more likely to be killed by family members than their male counterparts, which may be indicative of cultural and social dimensions responsible for gender inequality.
Serious gap between data and accountability
Despite the rise in alarming numbers, the lack of consistent and comprehensive data remains a significant challenge. In 2023, only 37 countries reported intimate partner and family-related homicides of women, a sharp decline from 75 countries in 2020.
This lack of information hampers efforts to monitor trends and hold accountable for such crimes.
UN Women and UNODC have developed a comprehensive strategy to address violence against women, which emphasizes the need for systematic data collection.
Accurate and transparent data is essential for policy action, monitoring progress and ensuring governments are held accountable for their commitments to gender equality.
A global order
The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is approaching in 2025. At the same time, the five-year deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Gender Equality Goal 5, is also approaching. In such circumstances, this report is a call for immediate action.
“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable – it can be prevented,” said UNWomen’s Executive Director Sema Bauhaus.
She stressed the need for “stronger laws, better data collection, greater government accountability, a culture of zero-tolerance and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies”.
The latest report highlights the urgent need to strengthen criminal justice systems that hold criminals accountable. “At the same time, emphasis is placed on ensuring safe and transparent reporting processes and access to adequate support for survivors of violence.”
“As the annual 16-day activism campaign is just beginning, it is crucial to take immediate action to save women’s lives,” said Seema Bachaus.