SettingBoundaries
Preventing Gender-based Violence

Real Talk About an Unacceptable Reality

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide, affecting women and girls across all cultures, ages, and socio-economic backgrounds. The compiled data presents a grim reality: tens of thousands of women lose their lives each year due to violence rooted in gender inequality and discrimination. This summary provides an analysis of the global situation, highlighting key findings, regional patterns, and the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat this epidemic.

Global Overview

  • Scale of the Problem: According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 87,000 women were intentionally killed worldwide in 2017. Alarmingly, about 50,000 (58%) of these deaths were at the hands of intimate partners or family members, underscoring that home can be the most dangerous place for many women.

    Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2018). Global Study on Homicide: Gender-related Killing of Women and Girls. Vienna: UNODC.

  • Underreporting and Data Gaps: A significant number of countries lack comprehensive reporting mechanisms for GBV-related deaths. Cultural stigmas, fear of retaliation, and distrust in authorities contribute to underreporting, masking the true extent of the issue.

Key Patterns and Trends

  • Intimate Partner Violence: A consistent pattern across all regions is the high percentage of women killed by intimate partners or family members.
  • Cultural and Societal Factors: Practices such as dowry systems, honor killings, and patriarchal norms significantly contribute to GBV in various countries.
  • Conflict and Instability: Regions experiencing conflict, political instability, or humanitarian crises see exacerbated levels of GBV, with limited data due to reporting challenges.

Limitations of the Data

  • Data Inconsistency: Variations in definitions of femicide and GBV, along with differing legal classifications, make cross-country comparisons challenging.
  • Underreporting: Stigma, fear, and lack of trust in law enforcement lead to many cases going unreported.
  • Lack of Data: Numerous countries do not collect or publish detailed statistics on GBV-related deaths, hindering a comprehensive global understanding.

Regional Analysis: Africa

  • Afrique du Sud: Reports some of the highest femicide rates globally, with 2,695 women murdered in 2019/2020 and a femicide rate of 15.2 per 100,000 women.

    Source: South African Police Service. (2020). Crime Statistics: Crime Situation in Republic of South Africa Twelve (12) Months (Avril to Mars 2019_20). Pretoria: SAPS.

  • Nigéria: Gender-based violence is prevalent, particularly in conflict-affected regions like the Northeast. Exact figures are challenging to obtain due to underreporting.

    Source: UN Women Nigeria. (2020). Nigeria Country Fact Sheet. UN Women.

Regional Analysis: Asia

  • Inde: Over 7,000 dowry-related deaths reported annually, with a total of approximately 13,000 female homicides linked to domestic violence and honor killings in 2019.

    Source: National Crime Records Bureau. (2020). Crime in India 2019 Statistics. New Delhi: Ministry of Home Affairs.

  • Pakistan: Approximately 1,000 honor killings occur each year, reflecting deeply rooted cultural practices.

    Source: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. (2020). State of Human Rights in 2019. Lahore: HRCP.

Regional Analysis: Europe

  • United Kingdom: Out of 241 female homicides in 2019, 64% were perpetrated by current or former partners.

    Source: Office for National Statistics. (2020). Homicide in England and Wales: Year Ending Mars 2019. London: ONS.

  • Russia: Estimates suggest around 14,000 women die annually due to domestic violence.

    Source: Human Rights Watch. (2018). I Could Kill You and No One Would Stop Me: Weak State Response to Domestic Violence in Russia. New York: HRW.

Regional Analysis: North America

  • United States: In 2018, 1,948 women were killed, with a significant number involving intimate partners.

    Source: Violence Policy Center. (2020). When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2018 Homicide Data. Washington, D.C.: VPC.

  • Canada: Reported 92 intimate partner homicides of women in 2019.

    Source: Conroy, S. (2021). Police-Reported Violence Against Girls and Young Women in Canada, 2019. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.

Regional Analysis: Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Brésil: Approximately 1,350 femicide cases reported in 2020.

    Source: Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública. (2020). Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2020. São Paulo: FBSP.

  • Mexique: Over 939 femicides reported in 2020, with total female homicides exceeding 3,700.

    Source: Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública. (2020). Información sobre Violencia contra las Mujeres. Mexico City: SESNSP.

Regional Analysis: Oceania

  • Australie: In 2019, 63 women were killed, with over half of the cases involving intimate partners.

    Source: Bricknell, S. (2020). Homicide in Australia 2017–18. Statistical Report No. 27. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.

We Need More Information!

Addressing gender-based violence requires a collective effort from governments, international organizations, civil society, and communities. By acknowledging the severity of the issue and committing to tangible actions, we can work towards a world where women and girls live free from fear and violence.

Can you update some of this data?

Who Is Reporting?

Africa

Algérie

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics on femicide and gender-based violence-related deaths are not publicly available.

Angola

  • Data Availability: No recent data on deaths due to gender-based violence is available.

Bénin

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not available; however, gender-based violence is recognized as a concern.

Botswana

  • Femicide Cases (2019): At least 30 women were reported killed due to gender-based violence, according to local NGOs.

Burkina Faso

  • Data Availability: No specific data available; gender-based violence is prevalent, especially in conflict-affected areas.

Burundi

  • Data Availability: Limited reporting on gender-based violence; specific death tolls are not available.

Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)

  • Data Availability: Limited information on gender-based violence-related deaths.

Cameroun

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics on deaths due to gender-based violence are available.

République centrafricaine

  • Data Availability: Due to ongoing conflict, data is scarce.

Tchad

  • Data Availability: No specific data available on deaths resulting from gender-based violence.

Comores

  • Data Availability: Limited reporting; specific statistics are not available.

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

  • Conflict-Related Violence: High incidence of sexual and gender-based violence, but exact death figures are not available.

Congo, Republic of the

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics on gender-based violence-related deaths.

Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

  • Data Availability: Limited data; gender-based violence remains a concern.

Djibouti

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Égypte

  • Femicide Cases (2020): Reports indicate at least 200 women were killed due to gender-based violence, but comprehensive statistics are lacking.

Guinée équatoriale

  • Data Availability: No specific data on gender-based violence-related deaths.

Erythrée

  • Data Availability: Limited information due to restricted access to data.

Eswatini (Swaziland)

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available, though gender-based violence is a recognized issue.

Éthiopie

  • Conflict-Related Violence: High prevalence in regions like Tigray; specific death figures are not available.

Gabon

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics on deaths due to gender-based violence.

Gambie

  • Data Availability: Limited reporting; specific data not available.

Ghana

  • Data Availability: No specific national statistics on gender-based violence-related deaths.

Guinée

  • Data Availability: Limited information; gender-based violence is a concern.

Guinée-Bissau

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Kenya

  • Femicide Cases (2019): At least 100 women were killed, according to the National Crime Research Centre.

Lesotho

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics on gender-based violence-related deaths.

Libéria

  • Data Availability: Limited data; gender-based violence remains a significant issue.

Libye

  • Data Availability: Due to ongoing conflict, specific statistics are not available.

Madagascar

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Malawi

  • Data Availability: Limited reporting on gender-based violence-related deaths.

Mali

  • Data Availability: No specific data available; gender-based violence is exacerbated by conflict.

Mauritanie

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Maurice

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics on deaths due to gender-based violence.

Maroc

  • Data Availability: No specific national statistics; gender-based violence is recognized as an issue.

Mozambique

  • Data Availability: Limited data due to ongoing conflicts in certain regions.

Namibie

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Reports indicate over 200 women were killed, according to local advocacy groups.

Niger

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available; gender-based violence is a concern.

Nigéria

  • Data Availability: Exact figures are challenging to obtain; gender-based violence is prevalent, especially in conflict-affected regions.

Rwanda

  • Data Availability: Limited specific statistics; however, efforts are being made to address gender-based violence.

São Tomé and Príncipe

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Sénégal

  • Data Availability: Limited reporting; gender-based violence is acknowledged as an issue.

Seychelles

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Sierra Leone

  • Data Availability: Limited data; gender-based violence remains a significant concern.

Somalie

  • Data Availability: Due to ongoing conflict and instability, specific statistics are not available.

Afrique du Sud

  • Female Homicides (2019/2020): 2,695 women were murdered, according to the South African Police Service.
  • Femicide Rate: Approximately 15.2 per 100,000 women, one of the highest globally.

Sud Soudan

  • Data Availability: Limited data due to ongoing conflict.

Soudan

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available; gender-based violence is a concern, especially in conflict areas.

Tanzania

  • Data Availability: No specific national statistics; gender-based violence is an acknowledged issue.

Togo

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Tunisie

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics on deaths due to gender-based violence.

Ouganda

  • Data Availability: Limited national statistics; gender-based violence remains a significant issue.

Zambie

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Zimbabwe

  • Data Availability: Limited data; gender-based violence is recognized as a concern.

Asia

Afghanistan

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are scarce due to ongoing conflict and instability.

Bahreïn

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Bangladesh

  • Femicide and Dowry Deaths (2019): Over 300 women were reported killed due to dowry-related violence.

Bhoutan

  • Data Availability: Limited information; gender-based violence is a concern.

Brunei

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Cambodge

  • Data Availability: Limited national statistics; gender-based violence remains an issue.

Chine

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics on domestic violence deaths are not publicly available.

Inde

  • Dowry-Related Deaths (2019): Over 7,000 cases were reported by the National Crime Records Bureau.
  • Total Female Homicides: Approximately 13,000, many linked to domestic violence and honor killings.

Indonésie

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Over 400 women were killed, according to the National Commission on Violence Against Women.

Iran

  • Honor Killings: Estimates suggest 375 to 450 women are killed annually; official data is scarce.

L'Irak

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not available due to ongoing conflict.

Israël

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 13 women were killed by intimate partners, according to local reports.

Japon

  • Intimate Partner Homicides (2019): Approximately 150 women were killed, according to the National Police Agency.

Jordanie

  • Honor Killings (2019): Approximately 20 cases were reported.

Kazakhstan

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Approximately 120 women were killed, according to local NGOs.

Koweït

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Kirghizistan

  • Femicide Cases (2019): At least 40 women were killed, including cases of bride kidnapping.

Laos

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Liban

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics on gender-based violence-related deaths.

Malaisie

  • Data Availability: Limited national statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Maldives

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Mongolie

  • Data Availability: Limited information; gender-based violence is an issue.

Myanmar (Burma)

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics due to political instability.

Népal

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Over 200 women were killed, including dowry-related deaths.

North Korea

  • Data Availability: No access to reliable statistics.

Oman

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Pakistan

  • Honor Killings (2019): Around 1,000 women are killed annually, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Philippines

  • Data Availability: Limited specific statistics; gender-based violence is an issue.

Qatar

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Arabie Saoudite

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not publicly available.

Singapour

  • Data Availability: Low incidence; specific statistics not widely reported.

South Korea

  • Femicide Cases (2019): About 85 women were killed by intimate partners or family members.

Sri Lanka

  • Data Availability: Limited national statistics; gender-based violence remains a concern.

Syria

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not available due to ongoing conflict.

Taiwan

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Tadjikistan

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is recognized as an issue.

Thaïlande

  • Data Availability: No specific national statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Timor-Leste

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Turkey

  • Femicide Cases (2020): At least 300 women were killed, according to the We Will Stop Femicide Platform.

Turkménistan

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Émirats arabes unis

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Ouzbékistan

  • Data Availability: Limited information; gender-based violence is a concern.

Vietnam

  • Data Availability: Limited national statistics; gender-based violence remains an issue.

Yémen

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not available due to ongoing conflict.

Europe

Albanie

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is recognized as an issue.

Andorre

  • Data Availability: Low incidence; specific statistics not widely reported.

Arménie

  • Data Availability: Limited information; gender-based violence is a concern.

Autriche

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 39 women were killed, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Azerbaïdjan

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence remains a concern.

Bélarus

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Belgique

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 24 women were killed, as reported by local NGOs.

Bosnie et Herzégovine

  • Data Availability: Limited information; gender-based violence is an issue.

Bulgarie

  • Femicide Cases (2019): At least 30 women were killed, according to local reports.

Croatie

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 13 women were killed by intimate partners.

Chypre

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is recognized as an issue.

République tchèque

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Danemark

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 12 women were killed, according to national statistics.

Estonie

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Finlande

  • Femicide Rate: Higher than the European average; in 2019, 17 women were killed by intimate partners.

France

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 146 women were killed by their partner or ex-partner, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior.

Géorgie

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is recognized as an issue.

Allemagne

  • Intimate Partner Homicides (2019): 117 women were killed by their partners, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office.

Grèce

  • Femicide Cases (2019): At least 20 women were killed, according to local NGOs.

Hongrie

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence remains a concern.

Islande

  • Data Availability: Low incidence; specific statistics not widely reported.

Ireland

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 7 women were killed, according to Women's Aid.

Italie

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 111 women were killed, with most cases involving intimate partners or family members.

Lettonie

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Liechtenstein

  • Data Availability: Low incidence; specific statistics not widely reported.

Lituanie

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Luxembourg

  • Data Availability: Low incidence; specific statistics not widely reported.

Malte

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Moldova

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence remains a concern.

Monaco

  • Data Availability: Low incidence; specific statistics not widely reported.

Monténégro

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Pays-Bas

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 43 women were killed, according to national statistics.

North Macedonia

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is recognized as an issue.

Norvège

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 5 women were killed by intimate partners, according to Statistics Norway.

Pologne

  • Data Availability: Limited national statistics; gender-based violence remains a concern.

Portugal

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 35 women were killed, according to the Portuguese Association for Victim Support.

Roumanie

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Over 70 women were killed, according to local NGOs.

Russia

  • Domestic Violence Deaths (2018): Estimates suggest around 14,000 women die annually due to domestic violence, based on data from Russian NGOs.

Saint-Marin

  • Data Availability: Low incidence; specific statistics not widely reported.

Serbie

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 30 women were killed, as reported by local NGOs.

Slovaquie

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence remains a concern.

Slovénie

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Espagne

  • Gender-Based Violence Deaths (2019): 55 women were killed by current or former partners, according to government data.

Suède

  • Intimate Partner Homicides (2019): 22 women were killed, as reported by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.

Suisse

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 19 women were killed, according to federal statistics.

Ukraine

  • Data Availability: Estimates indicate over 600 women are killed annually, but official statistics are limited.

United Kingdom

  • Female Homicides (2019): 241 women were killed; 64% by a current or former partner, per the Office for National Statistics.

Vatican City

  • Data Availability: No available data due to the unique nature of the population.

North America

Antigua et Barbuda

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Bahamas

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Barbade

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Belize

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence remains an issue.

Canada

  • Intimate Partner Homicides (2019): 92 women were killed, as reported by Statistics Canada.

Costa Rica

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 21 women were killed, according to the National Institute for Women.

Cuba

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Dominique

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

République dominicaine

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 75 women were killed, according to the Attorney General's Office.

El Salvador

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Around 230 women were killed, per the Institute of Legal Medicine.

Grenade

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Guatemala

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Over 700 women were killed, according to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Haïti

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics due to political instability.

Honduras

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Approximately 400 women were killed, one of the highest rates in the region.

Jamaïque

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence remains a concern.

Mexique

  • Femicide Cases (2020): Approximately 939 reported cases, according to government data.
  • Total Female Homicides: Over 3,700 women killed.

Nicaragua

  • Femicide Cases (2019): At least 63 women were killed, according to local NGOs.

Panama

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 20 women were killed, as reported by the Public Ministry.

Saint-Kitts-et-Nevis

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Sainte-Lucie

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Saint-Vincent-et-les-Grenadines

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Trinité-et-Tobago

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Over 50 women were killed, according to local reports.

United States

  • Female Homicides (2018): 1,948 women were killed, with a significant number involving intimate partners, per the Violence Policy Center.

South America

Argentine

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 252 women were killed, as reported by the Office of Women's Policies.

Bolivia

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 117 women were killed, according to the Attorney General's Office.

Brésil

  • Femicide Cases (2020): Approximately 1,350 women were victims, according to the Brazilian Public Security Forum.

Chili

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 46 women were killed, according to the Ministry of Women and Gender Equity.

Colombie

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Over 570 women were killed, according to the National Institute of Legal Medicine.

Équateur

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 68 women were killed, according to local NGOs.

Guyane

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Paraguay

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 37 women were killed.

Pérou

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 166 women were killed, per the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations.

Suriname

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Uruguay

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 24 women were killed.

Venezuela

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Over 200 women were killed, according to local reports.

Oceania

Australie

  • Female Homicides (2019): 63 women were killed; over half involving intimate partners, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Fidji

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 10 women were killed, according to the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre.

Kiribati

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Îles Marshall

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Micronesia

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Nauru

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Nouvelle-Zélande

  • Intimate Partner Violence Deaths (2018): 14 women were killed, as reported by the Family Violence Death Review Committee.

Palau

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée

  • Data Availability: High rates of gender-based violence; specific death statistics are not available.

Samoa

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Îles Salomon

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Tonga

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence remains an issue.

Tuvalu

  • Data Availability: Limited information available.

Vanuatu

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Middle East

Bahreïn

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Iran

  • Honor Killings: Estimates suggest 375 to 450 women are killed annually, though official data is scarce.

L'Irak

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not available due to ongoing conflict.

Israël

  • Femicide Cases (2019): 13 women were killed.

Jordanie

  • Honor Killings (2019): Approximately 20 cases were reported.

Koweït

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Liban

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics on gender-based violence-related deaths.

Oman

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Palestine

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Qatar

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Arabie Saoudite

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not publicly available.

Syria

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not available due to ongoing conflict.

Émirats arabes unis

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Yémen

  • Data Availability: Specific statistics are not available due to ongoing conflict.

Central Asia

Kazakhstan

  • Femicide Cases (2019): Approximately 120 women were killed.

Kirghizistan

  • Femicide Cases (2019): At least 40 women were killed.

Tadjikistan

  • Data Availability: Limited statistics; gender-based violence is a concern.

Turkménistan

  • Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Ouzbékistan

  • Data Availability: Limited information; gender-based violence is a concern.

Global Summary

  • Total Worldwide (2017): Approximately 87,000 women were intentionally killed globally, with about 50,000 (58%) killed by intimate partners or family members, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Limitations and Considerations

  • Underreporting: Many incidents are not reported due to stigma, fear, or distrust in authorities.
  • Data Variability: Definitions and classifications of gender-based violence differ by country.
  • Data Availability: Some countries do not collect or publish detailed statistics on gender-based violence.
  • Currency of Data: The latest data may not be available; statistics may not be updated annually.

Recommendations for Further Information

For the most accurate and recent data, please consult the following sources:

  • United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
  • UN Women
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • National Statistical Offices and Government Agencies
    • Many countries publish annual reports on crime and violence.
  • Non-Governmental Organizations
    • NGOs often provide detailed reports on gender-based violence in specific regions.

Laisser une réponse

Votre adresse électronique ne sera pas publiée. Les champs obligatoires sont marqués *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.