The United Nations on Monday raised alarm over the persistent global scourge of femicide, revealing that a woman was killed every 10 minutes last year by someone close to her.
In a joint report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women to mark the International Day for the Elimination ofll Violence Against Women, an estimated 50,000 women and girls lost their lives in 2024 at the hands of intimate partners or family members.
According to the findings, 60 percent of all female homicide victims were murdered by partners or relatives, including fathers, mothers, brothers, and uncles, while only 11 percent of male victims were killed by individuals within their immediate circles.
The data, compiled from 117 countries, translates to roughly 137 women killed daily, underscoring the scale of the crisis. Although the figure is slightly lower than what was recorded in 2023, the report cautioned that the shift likely reflects variations in data collection rather than an actual reduction.
Despite global advocacy, the report stressed that femicide remains rampant, noting that the home continues to be the most dangerous place for women and girls in terms of the risk of homicide. Africa recorded the highest number of cases in 2024, with an estimated 22,000 deaths.
“Femicides don’t happen in isolation. They often sit on a continuum of violence that can start with controlling behavior, threats, and harassment — including online,” said Sarah Hendricks, Director of UN Women’s Policy Division.
The study also highlighted how new technologies have intensified certain forms of abuse, with emerging threats such as doxxing, non-consensual image-sharing, and deepfake videos increasingly targeting women and girls.
“We need the implementation of laws that recognize how violence manifests across the lives of women and girls, both online and offline, and hold perpetrators to account well before it turns deadly,” Hendricks added.
