One woman killed every ten minutes by intimate partner: UN Report

The United Nations has reported that somewhere in the world, one woman is killed by an intimate partner every ten minutes. Expressing concern, the organisation said there has been little global progress in preventing femicide, AFP reported.

The report, released on the occasion of the international day for the elimination of violence against women, showed that in 2024 nearly 50,000 women or girls were killed by partners or family members.

Analysis of global data on women’s killings revealed that 60 per cent of female homicides are committed by loved ones, such as partners, fathers, mothers, brothers, uncles or cousins. In contrast, only 11 per cent of men are killed by close relatives.

The report, analysing data from 117 countries, found that 137 women are killed daily—or one woman every ten minutes—by a loved one. Although the number appears lower than in the 2023 report, the decrease does not reflect a true decline; in many countries, data reporting gaps explain the difference.

The report stated, “the most dangerous place for women and girls is their own home.” These killings occur in every region of the world, but the situation is worst in Africa, where around 22,000 women were killed by intimates last year.

Sarah Hendricks, Director of Policy at UN Women, said, “femicide is not an isolated incident. It is linked to other forms of violence, such as controlling behaviour, threats, harassment—even online abuse.”

The report further noted that with technological advancements, some forms of violence against women have intensified and taken new forms, including the sharing of images or personal information without consent and the creation of deepfake videos.

Hendricks added, “We need laws that prevent violence against women both online and offline and hold perpetrators accountable, so measures are taken before the situation worsens.”