• Every 10 minutes, a woman was killed by someone close to her in 2024, according to the UN.
• Over 50,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members last year.
• 60% of all murdered women were killed by partners or relatives, compared to 11% of male murder victims.
• Africa recorded the highest rate of femicide cases in 2024, followed by the Americas and Oceania.
• The report underscores the urgency for improved protection and preventive measures against violence.

A United Nations report released for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women highlights that every 10 minutes last year, a woman was killed by someone close to her, amounting to over 50,000 women and girls murdered by intimate partners or family members in 2024. This statistic equates to approximately 137 women per day, with 60% of female murder victims killed by partners or relatives, contrasting sharply with the 11% of male homicide victims murdered by someone close, according to lemonde, aljazeera, and cbsnews.

The report noted that a total of 83,000 women and girls were intentionally killed worldwide in 2024, with the majority of these fatalities being preventable. Experts attribute this to "gaps in protection, police responses and social support systems," which leave women vulnerable to domestic violence and homicide. UNODC's acting executive director, John Brandolino, stressed that the home remains "a dangerous and sometimes lethal place for too many women and girls," calling for stronger prevention efforts according to aljazeera and cbsnews.

Additionally, the report reveals that no region is free from femicide cases, with Africa having the highest rate, followed by the Americas, Oceania, Asia, and Europe. The troubling trend of femicide is exacerbated by technological advancements that introduce new forms of violence, such as non-consensual image-sharing and cyber harassments, as expressed by Sarah Hendricks, director of UN Women's Policy Division. This highlights the critical need for legal frameworks addressing the full spectrum of violence against women and girls, as noted by lemonde, aljazeera, and cbsnews.