A recent report has revealed a disturbing statistic: approximately 50,000 women were murdered worldwide in 2024. The report, compiled by the United Nations agencies focused on women and crime, highlights a global crisis with particularly devastating consequences in Africa.
According to the findings, Africa accounted for the highest number of femicides, with nearly 22,000 women killed by family members or intimate partners. This staggering figure underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and preventative measures across the continent.
The report, released in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, indicates that violence against women remains a pervasive issue across all regions. The data suggests that a woman is killed every ten minutes, revealing a lack of significant progress in combating femicide globally.
Six out of ten victims were killed by intimate partners or family members, a figure that remains stubbornly close to the previous year’s statistics. This highlights the critical need for effective strategies to address domestic violence and protect women within their own homes.
John Brandolino, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, emphasized the importance of strengthening prevention mechanisms and improving criminal justice responses to these crimes. He called for more effective strategies to hold perpetrators accountable and protect potential victims.
Similarly, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, stressed the urgency of enacting laws that address the diverse forms of violence faced by women and girls, both online and offline. She underscored the necessity of holding perpetrators accountable before their actions escalate to deadly violence.
The United Nations has designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women since 1999, calling on governments, international organizations, and civil society to organize awareness campaigns and initiatives to combat this global epidemic. The report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for collective action to protect women and girls worldwide.
