ছবি: Photo: Collected
In 2023, an alarming average of 140 women and girls were killed every day, primarily by their intimate partners or family members, according to a report released by two United Nations agencies. The report, published on Monday by UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, highlights that approximately 51,100 women and girls worldwide lost their lives to violence at the hands of their partners or family members, up from an estimated 48,800 in 2022.
The findings were released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, drawing attention to the global epidemic of gender-based violence. While the report notes that the rise in numbers is partly due to more comprehensive data collection from various countries, it stresses that the actual number of killings has not significantly increased.
The report emphasized, "Women and girls everywhere are victims of gender-based violence, and no region is exempt. The home is the most dangerous place for women and girls."
Africa saw the highest number of such killings in 2023, with an estimated 21,700 women and girls killed, and the region had the highest rate of these deaths relative to its population, with 2.9 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the Americas had 1.6 per 100,000, and Oceania recorded 1.5 per 100,000. Asia and Europe had lower rates, with Asia at 0.8 and Europe at 0.6 per 100,000.
The report indicates that in Europe and the Americas, intentional killings of women are often perpetrated by their partners, while men and boys are more likely to be killed outside the home.
While men and boys make up the majority of homicide victims globally, women and girls suffer disproportionately from fatal violence within the family. The report reveals that in 2023, approximately 20% of homicide victims were women and girls, but 60% of them were intentionally killed by family members or partners.
Despite efforts to prevent such killings, the report concludes that the number of deaths remains "alarmingly high." Both agencies stated that these deaths are often the tragic culmination of ongoing gender-based violence cycles, but timely and effective interventions can help prevent these fatal outcomes.
Sources: AP
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