A recent report by two United Nations agencies has revealed a harrowing statistic: an average of 140 women and girls were killed each day by intimate partners or family members in 2023. The findings underscore the grave dangers many women face within their own homes, described in the report as “the most dangerous place for women and girls.”
According to U.N. Women and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, approximately 51,100 women and girls lost their lives at the hands of intimate partners or family members last year. This marks an increase from the estimated 48,800 victims reported in 2022. However, the rise is attributed not to a surge in killings but to improved data collection from various countries. The report, released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, emphasized that no region is exempt from this extreme form of gender-based violence.
“Women and girls everywhere continue to be affected by this extreme form of gender-based violence, and no region is excluded,” the report stated.
Deep-Rooted Causes Persist
U.N. Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda addressed the media, emphasizing that the killings stem from deeply ingrained societal issues such as gender stereotyping and harmful social norms. “This is killing which is associated with power over women,” Gumbonzvanda remarked. She highlighted the widespread impunity surrounding such crimes, noting that violent attacks against women often go unpunished.
Gumbonzvanda, a longtime advocate for women’s rights from Zimbabwe, pointed out that many perpetrators remain anonymous due to the family dynamics involved. “It means the family members have to bring justice against another family member,” she explained, further complicating efforts to achieve accountability.
The U.N. Women official also stressed the need for those in positions of power—whether economic, political, or traditional leaders—to use their influence to combat violence against women. “Power should be used to facilitate options for prevention,” Gumbonzvanda urged.
Regional Disparities in Violence
The report revealed stark regional disparities in intimate partner and family killings. Africa bore the highest burden, with an estimated 21,700 female victims in 2023, equating to a rate of 2.9 victims per 100,000 people. The Americas and Oceania also reported alarmingly high rates of 1.6 and 1.5 female victims per 100,000, respectively. By comparison, rates were significantly lower in Asia (0.8 victims per 100,000) and Europe (0.6 victims per 100,000).
The data indicated that in Europe and the Americas, most women killed in the private sphere were victims of intimate partner violence. This contrasts with male homicides, which predominantly occur outside the home and family contexts. “Even though men and boys account for the vast majority of homicide victims, women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by lethal violence in the private sphere,” the report stated.
A Preventable Tragedy
The report further noted that while men accounted for 80% of all homicide victims in 2023, women represented a staggering 60% of those killed by intimate partners or family members. The agencies highlighted that such killings are often the culmination of prolonged gender-based violence, suggesting they could be prevented with timely interventions.
“The killings of women and girls are often the culmination of repeated episodes of gender-based violence, which means they are preventable through timely and effective interventions,” the report concluded.
This alarming data calls for immediate global action to address the root causes of gender-based violence and implement strategies to protect women and girls in their homes and communities.
