Gender-based Violence - International Association of ESD Professionals

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

South Africa: 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 (April to March 2019_20). Pretoria: SAPS.
Nigeria: 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

India: 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 March 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

Brazil: Approximately 1,350 femicide cases reported in 2020.
Source: Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública. (2020). Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2020. São Paulo: FBSP.
Mexico: 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

Australia: 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.

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Who Is Reporting?

Africa

Algeria

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.

Benin

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.

Cameroon

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

Central African Republic

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

Chad

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

Comoros

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.

Egypt

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

Equatorial Guinea

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

Eritrea

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.

Ethiopia

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.

Gambia

Data Availability: Limited reporting; specific data not available.

Ghana

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

Guinea

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

Guinea-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.

Liberia

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

Libya

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.

Mauritania

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Mauritius

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

Morocco

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.

Namibia

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.

Nigeria

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.

Senegal

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.

Somalia

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

South Africa

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.

South Sudan

Data Availability: Limited data due to ongoing conflict.

Sudan

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.

Tunisia

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

Uganda

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

Zambia

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.

Bahrain

Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Bangladesh

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

Bhutan

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

Brunei

Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Cambodia

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

China

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

India

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.

Indonesia

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.

Iraq

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

Israel

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

Japan

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

Jordan

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

Kazakhstan

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

Kuwait

Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Kyrgyzstan

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

Laos

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Lebanon

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

Malaysia

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

Maldives

Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Mongolia

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

Myanmar (Burma)

Data Availability: Limited statistics due to political instability.

Nepal

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.

Saudi Arabia

Data Availability: Specific statistics are not publicly available.

Singapore

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.

Tajikistan

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

Thailand

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.

Turkmenistan

Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

United Arab Emirates

Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Uzbekistan

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

Vietnam

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

Yemen

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

Europe

Albania

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

Andorra

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

Armenia

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

Austria

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

Azerbaijan

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

Belarus

Data Availability: No specific statistics available.

Belgium

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bulgaria

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

Croatia

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

Cyprus

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

Czech Republic

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Denmark

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

Estonia

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

Finland

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.

Georgia

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

Germany

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

Greece

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

Hungary

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

Iceland

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

Ireland

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

Italy

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

Latvia

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Liechtenstein

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

Lithuania

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

Luxembourg

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

Malta

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.

Montenegro

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Netherlands

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.

Norway

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

Poland

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.

Romania

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.

San Marino

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

Serbia

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

Slovakia

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

Slovenia

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Spain

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

Sweden

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

Switzerland

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 and Barbuda

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Bahamas

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

Barbados

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.

Dominica

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Dominican Republic

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.

Grenada

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Guatemala

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

Haiti

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.

Jamaica

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

Mexico

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 and Nevis

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Saint Lucia

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

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Trinidad and 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

Argentina

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.

Brazil

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

Chile

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

Colombia

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

Ecuador

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

Guyana

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

Paraguay

Femicide Cases (2019): 37 women were killed.

Peru

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

Australia

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

Fiji

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

Kiribati

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Marshall Islands

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

Micronesia

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Nauru

Data Availability: Limited information available.

New Zealand

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

Palau

Data Availability: Limited information available.

Papua New Guinea

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.

Solomon Islands

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