Every 10 minutes, a woman or girl loses her life to violence inflicted by an intimate partner or family member. This harrowing reality underscores the urgent need for action against femicide. According to the UN women report, in 2023 alone, 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed, with 60% of these tragedies occurring within the domestic sphere.
As the most extreme form of violence against women and girls, femicide remains a pervasive global issue. This crisis demands collective action, and initiatives like the UN’s 16 Days of Activism campaign aim to drive change by raising awareness, fostering accountability, and advocating for solutions to end gender-based violence.
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International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, November 25
On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, UN Women and UNODC released the report “Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides.” The findings highlight that femicide—defined as the most extreme form of violence against women and girls—remains a pervasive issue worldwide.
Read “Women are tortured or killed when an honor code is believed to have been broken and perceived shame is brought upon the family” at https://journals-times.com/2022/07/13/so-called-honor-versus-humanity-what-is-more-important-by-dr-navpreet-kaur/
Key Findings: Woman or Girl Loses Her Life
In 2023, 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed globally, with 60% (51,000 deaths) perpetrated by intimate partners or family members.
This equates to 140 women and girls dying every day at the hands of someone close to them or one life lost every 10 minutes.
Regional Trends
- Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicides.
- The Americas followed, with Oceania ranking third.
- In Europe and the Americas, most femicides (64% and 58%, respectively) were committed by intimate partners.
- In other regions, family members were the predominant perpetrators.
Call to Action
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, stressed that violence against women and girls is preventable, not inevitable. She called for:
- Robust legislation and improved data collection.
- Ensuring government accountability and fostering a culture of zero tolerance.
- 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, world leaders must act urgently, recommit, and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all,” she emphasized.
UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly, highlighted the need for solid criminal justice systems to hold perpetrators accountable and to ensure survivors’ access to support and safe reporting mechanisms. She urged the dismantling of gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women.
The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2025, alongside the approaching deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), presents a critical opportunity for global stakeholders to intensify efforts to end violence against women and girls.
16 Days of Activism: Renewing Commitments
UN Women is leading the 16 Days of Activism Campaign with a call to revitalize commitments, increase accountability, and demand action from decision-makers. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. A commemorative event in New York on November 25 spotlighted:
- Best practices for investment in violence prevention.
- Challenges and gaps in current approaches.
- A forward-looking plan for addressing gender-based violence.
The global social media campaign launched with hashtags #NoExcuse and #16Days, aims to mobilize public engagement and amplify calls to action.
Read the original article at https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/16-days-of-activism
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