A report released by UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reveals that 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed in 2023, with over 51,000—approximately 60%—being victims of intimate partners or family members. This equates to one woman or girl being killed every 10 minutes.
The report, released on 25 November to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, highlights Africa as the region with the highest rates of femicide. It underscores the urgency of combating this crisis as part of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence.
UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, called for a comprehensive approach to ending femicide, emphasizing prevention, strong legislation, and accountability. She urged world leaders to recommit resources and actions as the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration approaches in 2025.
UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly, also stressed the need for robust criminal justice systems and societal changes to dismantle harmful norms and biases that perpetuate violence against women.
The report and the campaign seek to catalyze global action to address the root causes of gender-based violence, prevent future crimes, and ensure justice for victims.