The total number of intentional homicides among women and girls in 2023 reached 83,000, of which 60% – or 50,000 – were victims of their close ones. This corresponds to 137 cases daily.
Sara Hendricks, Director of the Policy, Programs, and Intergovernmental Relations Division at UN Women, noted that "femicides do not occur in a vacuum. They are usually the culmination of prolonged violence that begins with control, threats, and harassment, including in the digital space." She also emphasized the importance of the "16 Days of Activism" campaign, which aims to draw attention to the fact that digital violence often escalates into physical violence, potentially leading to tragic consequences.
Hendricks added: "Every woman and every girl deserves to be safe. Timely intervention and the implementation of appropriate legislative measures that address both online and offline violence are necessary to combat femicides."
Acting head of UNODC, John Brandolino, emphasized: "Home often becomes a dangerous and sometimes deadly place for many women and girls. The report highlights the importance of implementing more effective measures to prevent femicides and improve responses from the criminal justice system."
The report also indicates that cases of gender-based killings are recorded worldwide. The highest rate of such crimes committed by intimate partners or relatives is observed in Africa – 3 cases per 100,000 women and girls, followed by the Americas (1.5), Oceania (1.4), Asia (0.7), and Europe (0.5).
Although some femicides occur outside the home, data on such cases remain insufficient. To improve monitoring and analysis of information, UN Women and UNODC are working with states to implement a statistical framework program that will allow for more accurate identification, registration, and classification of gender-related killings.
Expanding the volume and quality of data collected, as emphasized by the UN, is critically important for assessing the scale of the problem, developing effective response measures, and ensuring access to justice.
Photo on the homepage is illustrative: Unsplash/C. Bugdaryan.
