According to a report released by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the deadliest place for women is the home as a staggering 140 women and girls are killed by their intimate partner or family member every day.
This means there will be approximately 51,100 victims globally in 2023, a slight increase from the previous year.
But both agencies stressed that “women and girls everywhere are being affected by this extreme form of gender-based violence and no region is untouched by it.” And she said, “Home is the most dangerous place for women and girls.”
The report, released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, highlights alarming rates of domestic violence around the world. Africa recorded the highest number of intimate partner and familial homicides, with an estimated 21,700 victims in 2023. Africa also had the highest number of victims relative to the size of its population – 2.9 victims per 100,000 people.
The Americas and Oceania also recorded high rates of domestic violence, with 1.6 and 1.5 female victims per 100,000 people, respectively.
In contrast, Asia and Europe recorded much lower rates, with 0.8 and 0.6 victims per 100,000 people, respectively.
However, most male murders occur outside the home.
“Even though the vast majority of murder victims include men and boys, women and girls in the private sector are being disproportionately affected by lethal violence,” the report said.
“It is estimated that 80% of all murder victims in 2023 will be men while 20% will be women, but lethal violence within the family has a much greater impact on women than men, with 12% of all women intentionally killed in 2023 “Approximately 60% of the victims were intimate partner/family member homicides,” it said.
According to the Associated Press, despite steps taken to stop the killing of women, murders “remain at alarmingly high levels.”
The report emphasizes that domestic violence is a preventable crime, which often results from repeated episodes of gender-based violence.
UN agencies urge countries to take timely and effective interventions to prevent domestic violence and protect women and girls from lethal violence in the private sector.
