A woman or girl was killed every 10 minutes last year by a partner or family member, the United Nations warned on Monday, highlighting what it called a “stalled” global fight against femicide.
According to a new report by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 50,000 women and girls were murdered by intimate partners or relatives in 2024 — representing 60% of all female homicide victims worldwide. In contrast, only 11% of murdered men were killed by someone close to them.
The figure, drawn from data in 117 countries, averages 137 women killed each day, the UN said. While slightly lower than the previous year, experts stressed it does not reflect genuine progress but rather shifts in data reporting.
😔 Every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or relative.
This is UNACCEPTABLE.
As we mark our 15th anniversary, see the 15 actions @UN_Women is calling for to push forward on #GenderEquality: https://t.co/nyGnM7CThm#ForAllWomenAndGirls pic.twitter.com/Ajn8GJ1d7b
— UN Women (@UN_Women) July 5, 2025
Home remains “the most dangerous place.”
The report found that violence inside the home continues to pose the greatest threat to women and girls globally. Femicide was recorded in every region, with Africa again reporting the highest number at roughly 22,000 cases in 2024.
“Femicide doesn’t happen in isolation,” said Sarah Hendricks, Director of UN Women’s Policy Division. “It sits on a continuum of violence that often begins with control, threats, and harassment — including online.”
💔 Digital violence is not "virtual".
From surveillance to stalking, violence in digital spaces can turn into real-world violence, including #femicide.
Learn more from @UN_Women and @UNODC: https://t.co/Kj1Wnu4f4a#NoExcuse #16Days pic.twitter.com/GsvSTsYJP9
— UN Women (@UN_Women) November 25, 2025
Technology is fueling new forms of abuse.
The UN warned that rapid technological development is creating new avenues for violence against women, including non-consensual image-sharing, doxxing, and deepfake exploitation.
Hendricks called for stronger laws and earlier intervention. “We need legal systems that understand how violence manifests both online and offline — and hold perpetrators accountable long before it turns deadly.”
This is so fake. Men women both are suffering. Stop ignoring men