A new report by the United Nations (UN) reveals that femicide—the most extreme form of violence against women and girls—is still pervasive globally. Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely than white women to be killed by a domestic partner or family member.

Released by UN Women and the UN Office of Drug Control, “Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides,” noted that 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally, with 60 percent of these homicides (51,100) committed by an intimate partner or family member accounting for 60 percent of all female homicides. In too many cases, victims of femicide had previously reported violence and their killings could have been prevented. With that said, the UN says 140 women and girls are killed every day by someone they know, equating to one every 10 minutes.
 

“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable. We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, it is time for world leaders to unite and act with urgency, recommit, and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all,” said Sima Bahous, UN Women executive director, in a statement.

UN Women, formally known as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, is based in New York, and was established in July 2010 to accelerate progress on meeting the needs of women and girls worldwide. 

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