The United Nations has revealed alarming statistics on femicide, reporting that in 2024, a woman or girl was killed by an intimate partner or family member nearly every 10 minutes.
The findings were released Monday in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The UN Women, in a press release, said out of the 83,000 women and girls intentionally killed worldwide last year, 50,000 were murdered by someone within their own household, averaging 137 deaths per day.
In comparison, intimate partners or family members accounted for only 11% of male homicides.
The Director of UN Women’s Policy Division, Sarah Hendriks, highlighted the link between online and offline violence.
“Femicides often occur on a continuum of violence that begins with controlling behaviour, threats, and harassment, including digital abuse.
“What starts online can escalate offline and, in the worst cases, lead to lethal outcomes,” she said.
Hendriks called for early intervention systems and robust legislation to protect women and girls before situations become deadly.
Acting Executive Director of UNODC, John Brandolino, stressed that “the home remains a dangerous, and sometimes lethal, place for too many women and girls globally.”
He noted that the 2025 femicide brief underscores the urgent need for improved prevention strategies and justice responses tailored to gender-related killings.
The report also highlighted regional disparities. Africa recorded the highest rate of femicide by intimate partners or family members at three per 100,000 women, followed by the Americas (1.5), Oceania (1.4), Asia (0.7), and Europe (0.5).
While killings outside the home are also prevalent, data remains limited.
Both the UN Women and UNODC are working with governments to implement a 2022 statistical framework aimed at improving the identification and reporting of gender-related killings.
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Officials stressed that better data is crucial for shaping effective policies and delivering justice for victims.
Although the 2024 figure of 50,000 represents a slight decrease from 51,100 in 2023, experts caution that this reflects differences in reporting rather than a real reduction in femicide.
The report coincides with the launch of the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which emphasizes combating digital violence, including online harassment, stalking, deepfakes, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and gendered disinformation.
The campaign urges governments, technology companies, and communities to strengthen legal frameworks, enforce accountability, promote digital literacy, and provide survivor-centered support.
It also calls for long-term backing of women’s rights organizations working to create safer digital spaces.
