The United Nations has raised a serious alarm over the global rise in femicide, revealing that every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is murdered by someone close to her. The findings were published on Monday by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
According to the report, an estimated 50,000 women and girls were killed in 2024 by intimate partners or family members. This accounts for 60% of all female homicide victims, compared to just 11% of male victims who are killed by someone they know.
A Persistent Global Crisis
The data—drawn from 117 countries—shows an average of 137 women murdered every day, or one every 10 minutes. Although the figure is slightly lower than in 2023, the UN stressed that this does not indicate improvement. Variations in data availability between countries influenced the totals.
The report states that femicide remains widespread and deeply rooted, with no signs of decline. Homes continue to be the most dangerous place for women and girls, where the majority of these killings occur.
Africa Records Highest Femicide Numbers
Femicide affects every region of the world, but Africa once again reported the highest number, with approximately 22,000 deaths in 2024.
Technology Worsens Certain Forms of Abuse
Sarah Hendricks, Director of UN Women’s Policy Division, highlighted that femicide often stems from a long pattern of abuse, including controlling behavior, threats, and harassment—both offline and online.
The report warns that technological advancements have created new forms of gender-based violence, such as:
- Non-consensual sharing of images
- Doxxing
- Deepfake videos
Hendricks stressed the need for modern laws that address these online threats and ensure accountability before violence escalates to murder.
#UNReport #Femicide #ViolenceAgainstWomen #UNWomen #HumanRights #GenderBasedViolence #GlobalNews #WomensSafety #EndFemicide #StopViolenceAgainstWomen #InternationalDayForTheEliminationOfViolenceAgainstWomen #UNODC #BreakingNews
