840 million girls confronted accomplice or sexual violence

Violence in opposition to girls stays one of many world’s most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises, with little or no progress in 20 years, in keeping with a landmark report launched right this moment by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN companions.

Nearly 1 in 3 girls – estimated 840 million globally – have skilled accomplice or sexual violence throughout their lifetime, a determine that has barely modified since 2000. In the final 12 months alone, 316 million girls – 11% of these aged 15 or older – had been subjected to bodily or sexual violence by an intimate accomplice. Progress on lowering intimate accomplice violence has been painfully gradual with solely 0.2% annual decline over the previous 20 years.

For the primary time, the report consists of nationwide and regional estimates of sexual violence by somebody aside from a accomplice. It finds 263 million girls have skilled non-partner sexual violence since age 15, a determine specialists warning is considerably under-reported attributable to stigma and worry.

“Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices, yet still one of the least acted upon,” mentioned Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “No society can call itself fair, safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not only a matter of policy; it is a matter of dignity, equality and human rights. Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been forever altered.  Empowering women and girls is not optional, it’s a prerequisite for peace, development and health. A safer world for women is a better world for everyone.”

Efforts face funding cuts amidst mounting wants

The new report, launched forward of the International day for the elimination of violence in opposition to girls and women noticed on 25 November, represents probably the most complete research on the prevalence of those two types of violence in opposition to girls. It updates 2018 estimates launched in 2021. It analyses information between 2000 and 2023 from 168 international locations, revealing a stark image of a deeply uncared for disaster and critically underfunded response.

Despite mounting proof on efficient methods to stop violence in opposition to girls, the report warns that funding for such initiatives is collapsing – simply as when humanitarian emergencies, technological shifts, and rising socio-economic inequality are additional growing dangers for tens of millions of ladies and women. For occasion, in 2022, solely 0.2% of the worldwide improvement support was allotted to programmes centered on prevention of violence in opposition to girls, and funding has additional fallen in 2025.

Widespread and lifelong dangers

Women subjected to violence face unintended pregnancies, a better danger of buying sexually transmitted infections and experiencing melancholy. Sexual and reproductive well being companies are an vital entry level for survivors to obtain the high-quality care they want.

The report underscores the fact that violence in opposition to girls begins early and dangers persist all through life. For instance, prior to now 12 months alone, 12.5 million adolescent women 15-19 years of age or 16% have skilled bodily and/or sexual violence from an intimate accomplice.

While violence happens in each nation, girls in least-developed, conflict-affected, and climate-vulnerable settings are disproportionately affected. For instance, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) stories 38% prevalence of intimate accomplice violence prior to now yr – greater than 3 instances the worldwide common of 11%.

A name for motion – and accountability

More international locations than ever at the moment are amassing information to tell insurance policies, but important gaps stay – significantly on non-partner sexual violence, marginalized teams resembling indigenous girls, migrants, and ladies with disabilities, in addition to information from fragile and humanitarian settings. 

Progress has been achieved in international locations the place there’s political dedication to take action. For instance, Cambodia is implementing a nationwide mission that can replace laws on home violence, enhance service supply, high quality and entry, refurbish shelters and leverage digital options in colleges and communities to advertise prevention particularly with adolescents.

Ecuador, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda have developed costed nationwide motion plans. Legislative and advocacy actions in these international locations have contributed to some home financing for this difficulty, signalling elevated political dedication at a time of lowering support budgets. 

To speed up international progress and ship significant change for the lives of affected girls and women, the report requires decisive authorities motion and funding to:

• scale up evidence-based prevention programmes
• strengthen survivor-centred well being, authorized and social companies
• put money into information techniques to trace progress and attain probably the most at-risk teams
• implement legal guidelines and insurance policies empowering girls and women.

The report is accompanied by the launch of the second version of the RESPECT Women: stopping violence in opposition to girls framework, providing up to date steering for violence prevention, together with for humanitarian contexts.

There could be no extra silence or inaction. We want leaders to commit and act in direction of ending violence in opposition to girls and women now.

Quotes from companions

“Ending violence in opposition to girls and women requires braveness, dedication, and collective motion. Advancing gender equality is how we construct a extra equal, safer world for everybody, the place each girl and each woman can reside a life free from violence.” Dr Sima Bahous, Executive Director, UN Women

“Violence in opposition to girls inflicts deep and lasting hurt that impacts their lives, well being and dignity. For many, violence is compounded by discrimination primarily based on poverty, incapacity and different elements, exposing them to even increased danger. The devastating cycle of abuse usually ripples by way of households and communities and throughout generations. The information paint a grim image of the toll of inaction. This should change now. We should act urgently collectively to finish this violence and be certain that each girl and woman, in all her range, can train her rights, understand her potential and contribute absolutely to extra simply, equal and affluent societies.” Diene Keita, Executive Director, UNFPA

“The data shows that many women first experience violence from a partner when they are adolescents. And many children grow up watching their mothers being pushed, hit or humiliated, with violence a part of daily life. The key is to break this pattern of violence against women and girls.” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell

 

Notes to the editors

About the report

The report, Global, regional and nationwide prevalence estimates for intimate accomplice violence in opposition to girls and non-partner sexual violence in opposition to girls, 2023 was developed by WHO and the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) on behalf of, and with the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against Women Estimation and Data. The Working Group consists of representatives from WHO, UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD).

Modelling is used to reinforce comparability of estimates throughout international locations and areas to the extent allowed by present information. All surveys doubtless underestimate the precise prevalence of violence in opposition to girls as there’ll at all times be girls who don’t disclose these experiences, particularly the place this violence is extremely stigmatized. Sexual violence is especially underreported in lots of settings. Poorly designed or carried out surveys in some locations additional exacerbate this underestimation.

About regional and nation estimates

The report and database current regional information within the following classes: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) areas, WHO areas, Global Burden of Disease (GBD) areas, UNFPA areas and UNICEF areas. Data can be offered for 168 international locations and areas for girls aged 15-49 years outdated. The report presents information on each lifetime and previous 12 months prevalence estimates.

The charges of the Past 12 months prevalence of intimate accomplice violence amongst ever-married/-partnered girls 15 years and older among the many United Nations SDG regional and subregion classifications are ranked under from highest to lowest prevalence:

• Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand): 38%
• Central and Southern Asia: 18%
• Least Developed Countries – 18%
• Sub-Saharan Africa – 17%
• Small Island Developing States – 17%
• Northern Africa and Western Asia – 14%
• Oceania (together with Australia and New Zealand) – 13%
• Eastern and South-Eastern Asia – 8%
• Latin American and the Caribbean – 7%
• Europe and Northern America – 5%

About RESPECT

RESPECT stands for:  Relationship abilities strengthening, Empowerment of ladies and women, Services ensured, Poverty diminished, Enabling environments (i.e. colleges, workplaces, public locations), Child and adolescent abuse prevented, and Transformed gender attitudes, beliefs and norms. RESPECT girls is endorsed by 13 businesses and is geared toward coverage makers.