According to the femicide report for 2025, last year there were 83,000 recorded intentional murders of women and girls, of which 60 percent (or 50,000) were committed by their partners or relatives. In comparison, only 11 percent of murdered men were victims of their close ones.
Despite years of international commitments, the statistics on femicides remain alarming and show no signs of improvement.
Digital violence has serious consequences
Sara Hendricks, Director of Policy, Programs, and Intergovernmental Relations at UN Women, noted that femicides do not occur in a vacuum. They are often the culmination of prolonged violence that begins with control and threats, including cases of online violence. This year, the "16 Days of Activism" campaign emphasizes that digital violence can escalate into physical violence, which in the worst cases leads to murders.
According to Hendricks, every woman and girl has the right to safety, and to prevent femicides, prompt intervention and the application of laws that consider all forms of violence, both online and offline, are necessary.
Many women and girls are at risk in their homes
John Brandolino, Acting Head of the UNODC, emphasized that home continues to be a dangerous place for many women and girls. The report highlights the need for more effective measures to prevent femicide and improve the response of the criminal justice system.
According to the report, cases of gender-based killings are observed in all corners of the world. The highest rate of femicides committed by intimate partners or family members is recorded in Africa — 3 cases per 100,000 women and girls. This is followed by countries in the Americas (1.5), Oceania (1.4), Asia (0.7), and Europe (0.5).
Although some femicides occur outside the home, information on such cases remains insufficient. To improve monitoring and data analysis, UN Women and the UNODC are developing a statistical program in collaboration with states that will help better document and classify cases of gender-based violence. Expanding the volume and quality of collected information, as emphasized by the UN, is critical for understanding the scale of the problem and developing effective response measures.
