In a distressing revelation, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women reported that in 2024, an alarming 50,000 women and girls fell victim to brutal murders by their intimate partners or family members. This staggering figure translates to one fatality occurring every 10 minutes, showcasing a persistent issue despite global commitments over the years.
The 2025 femicide report released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women reaffirmed the grim reality that femicide continues to claim the lives of tens of thousands of women and girls globally, showing no significant signs of improvement. Shockingly, the report disclosed that a disturbing 83,000 women and girls were intentionally killed last year, with a substantial 60% of these victims, totaling 50,000 individuals, being murdered by their intimate partners or family members.
This equates to nearly one woman or girl losing her life at the hands of a partner or family member every 10 minutes, amounting to an average of 137 fatalities daily. In contrast, only 11% of male homicides were attributed to intimate partners or family members.
Sarah Hendriks, the Director of UN Women’s Policy Division, emphasized that femicides are not isolated events but often part of a continuum of violence that can begin with controlling behaviors and threats, extending to online harassment. The digital realm can escalate offline, potentially leading to lethal harm, including femicide. Hendriks stressed the importance of early intervention systems and the implementation of laws recognizing violence against women and girls in both the online and offline spheres to prevent such tragedies.
John Brandolino, the acting Executive Director of UNODC, highlighted that women and girls worldwide are victims of this extreme form of violence, with the home remaining a dangerous space for many. The 2025 femicide report underscores the urgent need for enhanced prevention strategies and criminal justice responses tailored to address the conditions fostering this severe violence.
The report indicates that Africa has the highest rate of femicide by intimate partners or family members, followed by the Americas, Oceania, Asia, and Europe. While femicides can occur beyond the domestic setting, comprehensive data on these incidents is lacking, prompting collaboration between UN Women and UNODC with countries to implement the 2022 statistical framework. This initiative aims to enhance the identification, recording, and classification of gender-related killings of women and girls, crucial for accurately assessing the extent of these femicides, facilitating effective responses, and pursuing justice.