In a recent report released on Thursday, the United Nations disclosed that approximately 89,000 women and girls lost their lives in 2022, marking the highest annual femicide figure recorded in the past two decades.
The report highlights the pervasive issue of gender-based violence, indicating a grim reality that underscores persistent global inequalities.
The UN report emphasized that the staggering number of femicides serves as a stark reminder of the profound societal challenges surrounding gender-based violence and inequality.
Ghada Waly, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), issued a statement expressing concern and calling for urgent action.
Waly stated, “Each life lost is a call to action, a plea to urgently address structural inequalities, to improve criminal justice responses, so that no woman or girl fears for her life because of her gender.”
The report further revealed that over half of the reported murders, approximately 55%, were committed by family members or partners.
This statistic starkly contrasts with the roughly 12% of male victims of homicide who faced similar circumstances.
Geographically, the report identified Africa as the region with the highest number of murders of women and girls, totaling around 20,000, followed closely by Asia. The findings underscore the critical need for comprehensive efforts to address and eradicate the deeply rooted issues contributing to violence against women and girls globally.