Report has it that nearly 1 in 3 women – estimated 840 million globally have experienced partner sexual violence during their lifetime, a figure that has barely changed since 2000.
In a latest report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners, revealed that violence against women remains one of the world’s most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises, with very little progress in two decades.
It also revealed that in the last 12 months alone, 316 million women – 11% of those aged 15 or older subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, adding that progress on reducing intimate partner violence has been painfully slow with only 0.2% annual decline over the past two decades.
The report for the first time includes national and regional estimates of sexual violence by someone other than partner and finds that 263 million women have experienced non-partner sexual violence since age 15, a figure experts caution is significantly under-reported due to stigma and fear.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said, “Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices, yet still one of the least acted upon. No society can call itself fair, safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear.
“Ending this violence is not only a matter of policy; it is a matter of dignity, equality and human rights. Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been forever altered. Empowering women and girls is not optional, it’s a prerequisite for peace, development and health. A safer world for women is a better world for everyone.”
It updates 2018 estimates released in 2021. It analyses data between 2000 and 2023 from 168 countries, revealing a stark picture of a deeply neglected crisis and critically underfunded response.
Despite mounting evidence on effective strategies to prevent violence against women, the report warned that funding for such initiatives is collapsing, just as when humanitarian emergencies, technological shifts, and rising socio- economic inequality further increasing risks for millions of women and girls.
Women subjected to violence face unintended pregnancies, a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections and experiencing depression.
Sexual and reproductive health services are an important entry point for survivors to receive the high-quality care they need. The report underscores the reality that violence against women begins early and risks persist throughout life.
While violence occurs in every country, women in least-developed, conflict- affected, and climate-vulnerable settings are disproportionately affected.
For example, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) reports 38% prevalence of intimate partner violence in the past year – more than 3 times the global average of 11%.
More countries than ever are now collecting data to inform policies, yet significant gaps remain particularly on non-partner sexual violence, marginalized groups such as indigenous women, migrants, and women with disabilities, as well as data from fragile and humanitarian settings.
Progress has been achieved in countries where there is political commitment to do so. For example, Cambodia is implementing a national project that will update legislation on domestic violence, improve service delivery, quality and access, refurbish shelters and leverage digital solutions in schools and communities to promote prevention especially with adolescents.
Ecuador, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda have developed costed national action plans. Legislative and advocacy actions in these countries have contributed to some domestic financing for this issue, signalling increased political commitment at a time of decreasing aid budgets.
Strengthen survivor-centred health, legal and social services, invest in data systems to track progress and reach the most at-risk groups, enforce laws and policies empowering women and girls.
The report is accompanied by the launch of the second edition of the RESPECT Women: preventing violence against women framework, offering updated guidance for violence prevention, including for humanitarian contexts.