Every 10 minutes, an intimate partner or family member kills a woman or girl, according to a grim 2023 report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and UN Women on Monday.
UN agencies reported 51,100 were victims of femicide globally, accounting for 60% of all intentional killings of women and girls during the year.
The data indicates that women face the greatest danger in their own homes. UN experts maintain that these murders are not random acts of violence but the culmination of ongoing abuse and societal norms that enable gender inequality.
Africa recorded the most femicides in both total numbers and rates. The continent saw 21,700 women killed, averaging 2.9 deaths per 100,000 women. The release of the report coincides with the launch of the international and annual campaign of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
Asia followed with 18,500 victims, and the Americas reported 8,300 deaths. Europe and Oceania reported 2,300 and 300 killings, respectively, with Europe showing the lowest rate of 0.6 per 100,000 women.
The report highlighted that many women killed had previously reported abuse. In some countries, like France, over one-third of femicide victims had sought help from authorities before they were killed. However, restraining orders and other interventions rarely prevented the killings.
The global decrease in data reporting is further hampering efforts to combat femicides. Since 2020, the number of countries tracking femicide cases has dropped by 50%. Experts warn that without reliable statistics, prevention efforts lose focus, and accountability declines.