In 2023, at least 85,000 women and girls were deliberately killed globally, most by family members, according to United Nations statistics released on Monday. The organization described this figure as an « alarming level » of femicides that could have been prevented.
A joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women highlighted that the home remains the most dangerous place for women. Around 60% of the victims—approximately 140 women daily or one every ten minutes—were killed by their partners or other family members.
This phenomenon transcends borders, affecting all social classes and age groups. The most impacted regions include the Caribbean, Central America, and Africa, followed by Asia. In the Americas and Europe, most femicides are committed by intimate partners, whereas in other regions, perpetrators are often other family members.
Many victims had reported physical, sexual, or psychological abuse before being killed. The report states that many of these killings could have been prevented through preventive measures and judicial interventions.
Despite prevention efforts, the rate of female homicides has remained stable or slightly declined since 2010, underscoring the persistence of deeply ingrained social norms and practices.
Seema Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, emphasized that this reality “is not inevitable” and urged nations to strengthen legal frameworks and improve data collection to combat this crisis effectively.
