One woman killed every 10 minutes, UN report says

In 2023, 140 women and girls died every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative, which means one woman killed every 10 minutes, Report informs, citing the UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

According to the information, Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicides, with 21,700 women killed in 2023, followed by the Americas and Oceania.

In Europe and the Americas, most victims were killed by their intimate partners, comprising 64 per cent and 58 per cent of cases, respectively. In contrast, women in Africa and Asia were more likely to be killed by family members than by partners.

UN Women and UNODC stressed the need for systematic data collection as part of a broader strategy to address violence against women. Accurate and transparent data is essential to inform policy, track progress, and ensure governments remain accountable for their commitments to gender equality.

“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable,” said Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director.

She emphasised the need for “robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies.”