At least 85,000 women and young girls will have lost their lives in 2023 across the world, victims of violence from their loved ones because of their gender: this is revealed by figures published Monday, November 25 by the United Nations (UN).
“An alarming level” of murders which could nevertheless be “avoided”and violence “which crosses borders, affects all social categories and age groups”insists the report from the Vienna Office of the United Nations on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the New York organization UN Women.
“The home remains the most dangerous place” for women, 60% of them having been killed by “their spouse or other members of their family”. That’s 140 every day, and one every ten minutes, across the world.
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“An alarming level” and stagnating figures
On the American continent and in Europe, femicides are mainly perpetrated by the spouse or ex-spouse, while in the rest of the world, family members are most often involved. According to UN figures, the Caribbean, Central America and Africa are the regions where the most of these crimes are recorded, ahead of Asia.
Many victims of femicide reported physical, sexual or psychological violence before their death, according to data available in certain countries, including France. “Which suggests that many killings could have been avoided”underlines the UN study, for example by “judicial injunction measures”.
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In regions where it is possible to establish a trend, the rate of femicide has stagnated or declined only slightly since 2010, demonstrating that this form of violence “is rooted in practices and standards” and is difficult to eradicate, notes the UNODC, which analyzed figures collected in 107 countries.
Despite the efforts undertaken in several countries, “feminicides remain at an alarming level”conclude the authors. But “it’s not inevitable”according to the director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, quoted in a press release, which calls on countries to toughen up the legislative arsenal and better collect data.
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