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The report stated that 60% of all female homicide cases were committed by male relatives, underscoring the vulnerability of women in their own households.
In 2023, 85,000 women were killed by men. (Representative Image)
A recent report by the United Nations shed light on the disturbing reality of violence against women globally, revealing that an average of 140 women are killed every day, most often at the hands of those closest to them. The report, which examined femicide – the gender-based killing of women – raised alarming concerns about the safety of women, particularly within their own homes, with intimate partners and family members being the leading perpetrators.
In 2023 alone, a staggering 85,000 women were killed by men. Of these, more than 51,000 were murdered by their husbands or close family members, highlighting the intimate and dangerous nature of the violence women face. Shockingly, the report stated that 60% of all female homicide cases were committed by male relatives, underscoring the vulnerability of women in their own households.
The United Nations report painted a grim picture of the global crisis facing women, with intimate partner violence and family-related killings on the rise. The Deputy Executive Director of UN Women remarked that the figures reflected a “dire situation” for women’s safety, pointing out that such violence often leads to tragic and preventable deaths. The report also stressed the urgent need for stronger measures to protect women from these pervasive threats.
The global report further defined femicide as any killing of a woman that was directly tied to her gender, emphasising the systemic nature of the violence. Although the report noted a slight decrease in overall intentional deaths of women in 2022, it highlighted a troubling increase in murders committed by intimate partners and family members.
Africa Leads in Femicides, But the Crisis is Global
Regionally, Africa recorded the highest number of femicides in 2023, with more than 21,700 women killed. This was followed by the Americas and Oceania, where femicide rates were also rising at alarming rates. Even in more developed regions like Europe and North America, intimate partner violence and family-related killings were becoming an increasing concern.
In light of these shocking statistics, the United Nations emphasised that homes – which should be a place of safety and refuge – were often the most dangerous environments for women. This startling revelation called attention to the need for profound changes in societal attitudes towards women, and for stronger laws and interventions to protect them.
The findings of the UN report not only raised critical questions about gender equality, but also highlighted the urgent need for societal transformation. It called for a reevaluation of cultural norms and practices that perpetuated violence against women and a renewed commitment to ensuring their safety and dignity in all spheres of life.
As the report concluded, it served as a stark reminder that much more was needed to be done to combat the pervasive violence women faced worldwide, and that real change began with reshaping attitudes toward women and their rights to live free from fear and harm.
