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Every 10 Minutes: A Woman Dies at the Hands of an Intimate Partner or Family Member – UN Report

Every 10 Minutes, a Woman Loses Her Life to Domestic Violence: UN Report Highlights Alarming Trend

Every 10 Minutes: A Woman Dies at the Hands of an Intimate Partner or Family Member - UN Report

In a sobering report, the United Nations revealed that every 10 minutes, a woman is killed by her intimate partner or a family member. This tragic statistic underscores the pervasive issue of gender-based violence, which remains alarmingly prevalent worldwide.

The report, issued during the UNiTE campaign for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, highlights a grim reality: at least 51,100 women lost their lives to femicide in 2023 alone. This number represents a chilling end to the suffering many women endure from intimate partners or family members.

The report also sheds light on the broader context of violence against women, emphasizing that nearly one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence during their lifetime, with adolescent girls being particularly vulnerable.

Additionally, femicide reflects a failure of systems that should protect women. The normalization of domestic abuse, workplace harassment, and digital violence has created an environment where many women face abuse without the perpetrators being held accountable. The greatest risk of murder for women is often in their own homes, where more than half of female homicides occur at the hands of partners or family members. This stands in stark contrast to the 12% of male homicides caused by family members.

The situation worsens for women in public life, including politicians and journalists, who frequently face targeted violence. In conflict zones, the risk is even greater, with up to 70% of women experiencing gender-based violence during crises.

This UN report serves as a call to action for urgent efforts to end violence against women and protect their rights to live free from harm.