Approximately 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed worldwide in 2023 according to a new report by UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Of these, over 51,000—around 60%—were victims of intimate partners or family members. This means a woman or girl was killed every 10 minutes last year.
The report, released on Monday, November 25 to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, highlights the alarming global scale of femicide. Africa was identified as having the highest rates of femicide, with intimate partners and family members being the primary perpetrators.
According to the report, “Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicides, followed by the Americas and Oceania. In Europe and the Americas, most victims were killed by their intimate partners, while in other regions, family members were the primary perpetrators.”
UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, emphasized that violence against women is preventable.
“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable,” Bahous said. “We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies.
“As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, it is time for world leaders to unite, act with urgency, recommit, and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all.”
Similarly, UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly, called for stronger criminal justice systems.
“The new femicide report highlights the urgent need for robust criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms,” Waly said. “At the same time, we must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women.”
The release of the report coincides with the start of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, which calls on global leaders to take action against systemic violence. The campaign, supported by hashtags like #NoExcuse and #16Days, aims to raise awareness and demand action against gender-based violence.
In Nigeria, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu joined the global observance, urging urgent steps to eliminate violence against women.
Femicide refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender. It is the most extreme form of violence against women, often involving acts such as domestic abuse killings, honour-based violence, and dowry-related deaths.
As the world approaches key milestones like the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, UN Women urges governments to prioritize ending violence against women and girls and securing justice for victims.
