UN says one woman killed by partner, relative every 10 minutes worldwide

A woman was killed by a partner or family member every 10 minutes in 2023, the United Nations reported on Monday, highlighting that femicides remain at “alarmingly high levels.”

A joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women revealed that nearly 85,000 women and girls were murdered last year.

Of these, around 60% — more than 51,000 — were killed by their partners or relatives, equating to 140 deaths daily or one every 10 minutes.

“The home continues to be the most dangerous place for women and girls when it comes to the risk of lethal violence,” the report noted.

While men comprised 80% of all murder victims last year, making them four times more likely than women to fall victim to homicide, they were typically killed by strangers.

In contrast, women were most often victimized by someone they knew. Africa experienced the highest toll, with 21,700 women murdered by close associates in 2023. Europe recorded the lowest rates of femicide, with 2,300 murders, followed by Asia.

Despite efforts in some nations to combat femicides, these crimes remain widespread due to entrenched gender inequality and harmful stereotypes.

“We need to challenge and dismantle gender biases, power imbalances, and the harmful norms that fuel violence against women,” said UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly.

The report also emphasized that femicides are often the result of escalating violence and could be prevented through measures such as restraining orders. For example, data from France shows that many femicides are the culmination of repeated abuse.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous called for stronger legislation, increased government accountability, and greater funding for women’s rights organizations to combat violence against women effectively.

She also highlighted the importance of better data collection from diverse national sources, including media reports, and fostering a “zero-tolerance culture” towards femicides.

Based on data from 107 countries or territories and information collected from UN member states, the report coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.