A devastating omnipresence: one in three women in the world is a victim of violence

Violence against women remains terribly pervasive and begins very early in a woman's life, as alarming new data released by WHO and its partners show. One in three women will experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner or sexual violence from someone other than their partner in their lifetime – that's around 736 million women, a number that has remained largely unchanged over the past decade.

This violence starts early: one in four young women (aged 15 to 24) who have been in a relationship will have already experienced violence from an intimate partner by the time they reach the age of 25 years.

“Violence against women is endemic in all countries and cultures, causing harm to millions of women and their families, and it has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “But unlike COVID-19, violence against women cannot be stopped by a vaccine. We can only fight it through deep and sustained efforts – by governments, communities and individuals – to change harmful behaviors, improve access to opportunities and services for women and girls, and foster healthy and mutually respectful relationships. »

Intimate partner violence is by far the most common form of violence against women in the world (affecting an estimated 641 million people). However, 6% of women worldwide report having been sexually assaulted by someone other than their husband or partner. Given the high levels of stigma and under-reporting of sexual abuse, the true figure is arguably much higher.

Emergencies exacerbate violence, increasing vulnerability and risk

The report presents data from the largest-ever study on the prevalence of violence against women, a study conducted by WHO for a special United Nations working group. Based on data from 2000 to 2018, it updates previous estimates published in 2013.

While the figures reveal already alarming rates of violence against women and girls, they do not reflect the still current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO and partners are warning of the increased exposure of women to violence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to measures such as lockdowns and disruptions to essential support services.

“It is deeply worrying that this widespread male-on-female violence not only persists unchanged, but is reaching its worst for young women aged 15-24 who may also be young mothers. And this is the situation before the stay-at-home measures taken as a result of the pandemic. We know that the multiple consequences of COVID-19 have triggered a “hidden pandemic” of increased violence against women and girls,” said UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. "Every government should take strong and forceful action to address this and involve women in this process," she added.

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While many countries have seen an increase in reports of intimate partner violence to helplines, police, health workers, teachers and other service providers during lockdowns, the The full impact of the pandemic on prevalence will only be established as surveys resume, the report notes.

Inequality is one of the main risk factors for violence against women

Violence disproportionately affects women living in low- and middle-income countries in the lower slice. An estimated 37% of women living in the poorest countries have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, with prevalence as high as one in two in some of those countries.

The regions of Oceania, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have the highest prevalence rates of intimate partner violence among women aged 15-49, these rates ranging from 33% to 51%. The lowest rates are found in Europe (16-23%), Central Asia (18%), East Asia (20%) and South East Asia (21%).

Young women are most at risk for recent violence. Among those who have been in a relationship, the highest rates (16%) of spousal violence in the past 12 months are reported among young women aged 15 to 24.

Violence against women can be prevented

Violence – in all its forms – can impact a woman's health and well-being throughout her life. of his life – long even after the violence may have ended. It is associated with an increased risk of trauma, depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and many other health problems. It has repercussions on society as a whole and enormous costs, which have an impact on national budgets and overall development.

Preventing violence requires tackling systemic economic and social inequalities, ensuring access to education and safe work, and changing gender norms and discriminatory institutions. Successful interventions also include strategies that ensure essential services are available and accessible to victims, support women's organizations, challenge inequitable social norms, reform discriminatory laws, and strengthen legal responses, among others.

"To address violence against women, there is an urgent need to reduce the stigma around this issue, train medical professionals to interview victims with compassion, and dismantle the foundations of gender inequalities,” said WHO’s Dr Claudia Garcia-Moreno. “Interventions with adolescents and young people to promote gender equality and gender-equitable behaviors are also vital. »

Countries must honor their commitments by reaffirming with greater determination their political will and their leadership role in the fight against violence against women in all its forms, by means of:

Sub-regions: