Last year, the United Nations reported that every 10 minutes, a woman or girl worldwide was murdered by someone close to her, such as a partner or family member. The UN highlighted the persistent lack of progress in combating femicide. In 2024, approximately 50,000 women and girls lost their lives due to violence from intimate partners or relatives, according to a joint report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and UN Women released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The report indicated that 60% of women killed globally were murdered by partners or family members like fathers, uncles, mothers, or brothers. In comparison, only about 11% of male murder victims were killed by someone they knew personally. Breaking down the data from 117 countries, the figure equates to roughly 137 women each day, or about one woman every 10 minutes. Although this number is slightly lower than last year’s figures, the report clarified that this doesn’t necessarily reflect a real decline—it mainly results from variations in data availability across nations.
Femicide remains one of the leading causes of death among women and girls, with no signs of diminishing. The study emphasized that the home continues to be the most dangerous place for women, with Africa reporting the highest number last year—around 22,000 femicides. Experts noted that femicide rarely occurs in isolation; it often forms part of a continuum of violence, which can begin with controlling behaviors, threats, harassment—including online intimidation—and escalate over time.
Technological advancements have also contributed to increased risks, facilitating new forms of violence like non-consensual image sharing, doxxing, and deepfake videos. Sarah Hendricks, director of UN Women’s Policy Division, stressed the importance of implementing laws that recognize how violence manifests both online and offline. She emphasized the need to hold perpetrators responsible early on, before violence results in tragedy.
