Geneva – The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that violence against women persists as one of the most enduring and least addressed human rights crises globally. A staggering one in three women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, equating to an estimated 840 million women. This figure has remained largely unchanged since the year 2000.
According to a recent WHO report, the past twelve months alone saw 316 million women subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner. This represents approximately 11% of women aged 15 years and older.
The WHO emphasizes that violence against women continues to be a persistent and under-addressed human rights issue, with minimal progress observed over the past two decades. These statistics were released in a landmark report by the WHO and its United Nations partners in anticipation of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed annually on November 25th.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that violence against women is one of the oldest and most widespread forms of injustice in human history, yet it remains severely under-addressed. He asserted that no society can claim to be just, safe, or healthy while half of its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not merely a political issue, but a matter of dignity, equality, and human rights.
“Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been forever altered,” Ghebreyesus added. He emphasized that empowering women and girls is not an option, but a prerequisite for peace, development, and health, stressing that a safer world for women is a better world for everyone.
While 117 countries reported efforts to address digital violence in 2025, the WHO notes that these efforts remain fragmented in the face of a challenge that transcends national borders. DZWatch will continue to monitor this critical issue and report on developments as they unfold.
