140 Women Killed Daily by Partners or Family in 2023: UN Report

• Nov 25, 2024

A report by two UN agencies reveals that an average of 140 women and girls were killed daily by intimate partners or family members in 2023. Released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the report highlights the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence in private spaces.

In 2023, approximately 51,100 women and girls globally lost their lives due to violence from partners or relatives, up from 48,800 victims in 2022. However, the increase is attributed to improved data collection rather than a rise in actual cases. The report, prepared by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, emphasizes that “no region is excluded” from this extreme form of violence, with the home identified as the most dangerous place for women and girls.

Africa recorded the highest number of victims, with an estimated 21,700 women and girls killed in 2023. It also had the highest rate relative to its population, with 2.9 victims per 100,000 people. The Americas followed with a rate of 1.6 victims per 100,000, while Oceania reported 1.5. Asia and Europe had significantly lower rates, at 0.8 and 0.6 victims per 100,000, respectively.

The report notes that in Europe and the Americas, most intentional killings of women within private spaces are committed by intimate partners. In contrast, men, who make up 80% of global homicide victims, are predominantly killed outside the home.

Despite ongoing prevention efforts, the killing of women and girls by intimate partners and family members remains alarmingly high. Nearly 60% of women intentionally killed in 2023 were victims of such violence, while lethal family violence disproportionately affects women compared to men.

The UN agencies stress that these killings are often the result of prolonged episodes of gender-based violence and could be prevented with timely and effective interventions. The report calls for more robust actions to combat gender-based violence and protect women and girls worldwide.

This data underscores the urgent need for global efforts to create safer environments for women, particularly within their homes.