A new UN study estimates that of the 81,000 women and girls intentionally killed around the world last year, more than half died at the hands of their partners or other family members. The document was released on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which the UN commemorates every November 25. The report is a dire reminder that violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world.
The home is a deadly place for many women and girls, a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Unodoc) and UN Womenpublished Tuesday on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Womenwhich is celebrated annually on November 25.
According to the study, in 2021, an average of more than five women or girls were killed every hour by someone in their own family. Of the 81,000 women and girls intentionally killed last year, 45,000, around 56%, were killed by their partners or other family members.
The study indicates that the percentage of male homicides that are perpetrated in the private sphere is 11%.
Individuals, not statistics
Behind every femicide statistic is the story of an individual woman or girl who has been failed. These deaths are preventable – the tools and knowledge already exist to do so,” said Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women when releasing the report.
The figures also show that the total number of homicides of women has remained practically unchanged in the last decadeunderscoring the urgency of stronger action on prevention and response.
The document is a terrifying reminder that violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world.
Count all victims
According to the report, there are still too many victims that are not accounted for. Although approximately five in ten women and girls were intentionally killed in 2021, there is not enough information to identify them as femicide.
“No woman or girl should fear for her life because of who she is,” said Ghada Waly, executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
“To end all forms of gender-related killing of women and girls, we need to count all victims, everywhere, and improve understanding of the risks and drivers of femicide so that we can design prevention responses and better and more effective criminal justice.
A problem everywhere
Violence against women and femicide is a problem in every country on the planet, although the report points out the existence of regional disparities.
For example, in Africa women and girls are more at risk of being killed by their partners or other family members.
Last year, the rate of gender-related murders in the home was estimated at 2.5 per 100,000 women in Africa. The rate was 1.4 in the Americas, 1.2 in Oceania, 0.8 in Asia, and 0.6 in Europe.
The results also suggest that the start of the pandemic of covid-19 in 2020 it coincided with a significant increase in gender-related killings in the private sphere in North America, and to some extent in Western and Southern Europe.
Also read: A dropper Cicpc confirms more than two sexual assaults and femicides a week
Prevention and action
However, gender-related killings, as well as other forms of violence against women and girls, are not inevitable, the report stresses.
These crimes can and should be prevented through a combination of measures such as early identification of women affected by violence, and access to survivor-centred support and protection.
Other recommendations concerned addressing root causes, including transforming harmful masculinities and social norms, and eliminating structural gender inequalities.
Strengthening the collection of data on femicides is also a step.
Also read: EDITORIAL | Feminicides, without honor or glory
Guterres: a very high cost
For him general secretary from the ONU, Anthony Guterresthis discrimination, violence and abuse against half of humanity has a very high cost.
“It limits the participation of women and girls in all spheres of life, denies their basic rights and freedoms, and blocks the equitable economic recovery and sustainable growth that our world needs,” Guterres said in a message to mark the Day. International.
The head of the UN outlined what needs to be done when he said, among other things, that governments design, finance and apply national action plans to deal with this scourge.
In addition, grassroots and civil society groups must be involved in all phases of decision-making and all laws must be applied and respected, so that survivors can see their rights to justice and support upheld.
Guterres also urged everyone to support public campaigns that challenge patriarchal norms and promote different forms of masculinity that reject misogyny and violence.
“I call on governments to increase funding by 50% to women’s rights organizations and movements by 2026,” she declared.
In closing, the Secretary-General called for the world to “take a stand and speak up in support of women’s rights… [y] Proudly declare: We are all feminists.”
“Women’s rights organizations are already monitoring the data and advocating for policy change and accountability,” she noted. Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. “Now we need concerted action from all of society to realize the right of women and girls to feel and be safe, at home, on the streets and everywhere.”
The report will serve as the basis for 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violencethe annual international campaign that begins on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until Human Rights Day, December 10.
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