Approximately 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed in 2023, with 60 per cent—over 51,000—falling victim to intimate partners or family members, according to a new report by UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
This equates to one woman or girl being killed every 10 minutes.
Released on Monday, 25 November, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the report highlights the pervasive and deadly scale of femicide worldwide, identifying Africa as the region with the highest rates.
The report’s release coincides with the launch of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, which calls on global leaders to dismantle systemic violence against women and girls.
According to the report:
“Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicides, followed by the Americas and Oceania. In Europe and the Americas, most victims were killed by their intimate partners, while in other regions, family members were the primary perpetrators.”
UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, stressed that femicide and violence against women are preventable.
Bahous stated, “Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable. We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organisations and institutional bodies.
“As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, it is time for world leaders to unite, act with urgency, recommit, and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all.”
Similarly, Executive Director of UNODC, Ghada Waly, stressed the importance of strong systems to combat the issue.
Waly said, “The new femicide report highlights the urgent need for robust criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms. At the same time, we must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women.”
The 16 Days of Activism campaign has also sparked a global social media movement using the hashtags #NoExcuse and #16Days, aiming to raise awareness and demand action.
Tinubu joins global observation
PUNCH Online previously reported that Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, called for urgent action against gender-based violence during the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
2030 deadline
With significant milestones approaching, including the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, UN Women urges governments and institutions to take decisive action to end impunity, prevent violence, and secure justice for women and girls worldwide.
Understanding femicide
Femicide refers to the intentional killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. It is often a form of gender-based violence, typically perpetrated by intimate partners, family members, or others in positions of power over the victim.
It is considered the most extreme form of violence against women and girls and includes acts such as domestic abuse killings, honour-based violence, dowry-related deaths, and other forms of gender-based discrimination and control.
