According to the UN 2025 report, a woman is murdered within her family every 10 minutes

In a comprehensive report released ahead of the November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations announced that a woman is a victim of domestic homicide every 10 minutes worldwide.

Although the figures on violence against women surprise and horrify us every year, the report reveals that there has been no significant decline in the rate of this violence over the last quarter-century. WHO data shows that the annual reduction in intimate partner violence during this period has been only 0.2%.

Last year, approximately 83,000 women worldwide were killed by men simply because they were women (femicide). 60% of these murders were committed within the family, by the women's family members or partners.

Men are murdering women, and the vast majority of these murders are committed within the family. In other words, women, young girls, and female children are being killed in the places where they should feel safest. Although this unimaginable violence, seen all over the world, is one of the oldest and most unacceptable injustices on earth, it continues to be one of the least addressed problems of humanity.

1 IN 3 WOMEN WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCES VIOLENCE

According to WHO data, nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide, or approximately 840 million women, have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual violence at some point in their lives. It is stated that this rate has remained almost unchanged since 2000.

In the last 12 months alone, 11% of women aged 15 and over have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner; this figure corresponds to approximately 316 million women.

URGENT WARNING FROM THE UN REPORT: FUNDS ARE DECREASING

The report, based on an analysis of data collected from 168 countries between 2000 and 2023 in collaboration with the WHO and the UN, also draws attention to the funding crisis in efforts to prevent violence against women.

According to the data, only 0.2% of global development aid was allocated to the prevention of violence against women in 2022. Moreover, it is stated that while these funds should have been increased as of 2025, they have been further reduced.

The report emphasizes that at a time when humanitarian crises, technological transformations, and deepening socioeconomic inequalities are increasing risks for women and girls, funding cuts will have much more devastating consequences.

It is stated that not only political will but also sustainable and strong funding is required to stop violence against women. While it has been scientifically proven that these budgets create direct improvements in the lives of thousands of women, it is stated that reducing funding support is unacceptable.

WHY IS FUNDING A VITAL ISSUE?

Women who survive violence often face serious health problems such as severe depression, unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. For this reason, rapid access to quality healthcare services and long-term support for survivors is of critical importance.

A significant portion of women encounter this violence at a very early stage in their lives. In the last 12 months alone, 12.5 million adolescent girls aged 15-19, or nearly 16% of this age group, have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by their partners.

Moreover, these figures only include those that can be recorded; many young girls do not file complaints due to social pressure or fear of the perpetrators.

NO SOCIETY IS SAFE WHILE WOMEN LIVE IN FEAR

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while evaluating the findings of the report, stated the following:

“No society can call itself fair, safe, or healthy while half of its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not just a matter of policy; it is a matter of protecting human dignity, equality, and fundamental human rights.”

Dr. Ghebreyesus also reminded that behind the statistics are real women and girls whose lives have been completely changed, adding:

“Empowering women and girls is not a choice; it is a necessity for peace, development, and health. A safer world for women is a better world for everyone.”

News Source: 12punto