UN Report Highlights Gender-Based Violence Crisis

A recent joint report from UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), published in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, underscores a devastating reality: intimate partner and family violence were responsible for 60% of the 85,000 femicides worldwide in 2023. The findings highlight the urgent need for stronger prevention and intervention measures to address this global crisis and protect vulnerable women and girls from further harm.

The report shows that an average of 140 women and girls are killed daily by someone they know. “Women and girls everywhere continue to be affected by this extreme form of gender-based violence, and no region is excluded.” Africa emerges as the region with the highest number of victims, with an estimated 21,700 women and girls killed by intimate partners or family members in 2023. Moreover, Africa recorded the highest victimization rate, with 2.9 victims per 100,000 people.

While men and boys account for 80% of homicide victims worldwide, the report highlights a troubling pattern: women and girls are more likely to be victims of lethal violence within domestic settings. This disparity is driven by a combination of social, cultural, and systemic factors that perpetuate gender inequality and power imbalances at home. The intersection of these factors creates a vulnerable environment where women are disproportionately targeted for violence by those closest to them, states the report.

The UN also emphasizes that many femicides are preventable. These deaths often represent the culmination of repeated episodes of gender-based violence, escalating into lethal violence. Despite ongoing efforts to address gender-based violence, the persistently high levels of femicide underscore the critical need for stronger, more effective prevention and intervention strategies on a global scale.

In Mexico, more than 3,000 women, including children and teens, are murdered each year. However, only 24% of these killings are officially classified as femicides—a term reserved for murders based on gender, reports El Pais. Civil society organizations contend that the true number of femicides is likely much higher, pointing to systemic issues in the classification of these crimes. According to government data, approximately 10 women and girls are killed every day by intimate partners or family members. This statistic paints a picture of the pervasive and ongoing nature of gender-based violence in Mexico, which remains a critical challenge to address.

Another factor to consider is the impact of violence on brain health. Studies reported by Wired showcase that physical and psychological abuse leads to measurable damage in the brain, particularly in the white matter, the area responsible for brain connectivity and the transmission of information between neurons. Intimate partner violence often results in injuries to the head, face, and neck, leading to brain trauma, even when the injuries are mild. These frequently go undiagnosed but can significantly alter brain function and leave lasting effects on the mental health of survivors. Furthermore, a study published in Sage Journals using structural MRI scans analyzed the brains of 28 female survivors of gender-based violence alongside 27 non-victims. The results revealed differences in key brain areas, particularly the temporal, frontal, occipital, parietal, and limbic regions. Victims showed lower brain volume in critical areas such as the temporal sulcus and inferior frontal gyrus, regions associated with social processing and decision-making. These structural changes are linked to trauma, including post-traumatic stress, attempted strangulation, and childhood abuse, and they can disrupt the victim's ability to respond to daily challenges and regulate emotions.