KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — Violence against women remains one of the world’s most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises, with very little progress in two decades, according to a landmark report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations partners.
Nearly one in three women — estimated 840 million globally — have experienced partner or sexual violence during their lifetime, a figure that has barely changed since 2000.
In the last 12 months alone, 316 million women — 11 per cent of those aged 15 or older — were subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner.
Progress on reducing intimate partner violence has been painfully slow with only 0.2 per cent annual decline over the past two decades.
For the first time, the report includes national and regional estimates of sexual violence by someone other than a partner.
It finds 263 million women have experienced non-partner sexual violence since age 15, a figure experts caution is significantly under-reported due to stigma and fear.
“Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices, yet still one of the least acted upon,” said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“No society can call itself fair, safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not only a matter of policy; it is a matter of dignity, equality and human rights.”
Funding Cuts Amidst Mounting Needs
The new report, released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls observed on November 25, represents the most comprehensive study on the prevalence of these two forms of violence against women.
It updates 2018 estimates released in 2021.
It analyses data between 2000 and 2023 from 168 countries, revealing a stark picture of a deeply neglected crisis and critically underfunded response.
“The data shows that many women first experience violence from a partner when they are adolescents. And many children grow up watching their mothers being pushed, hit or humiliated, with violence a part of daily life,” said UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell.
“The key is to break this pattern of violence against women and girls.”
Despite mounting evidence on effective strategies to prevent violence against women, the report warns that funding for such initiatives is collapsing — just as when humanitarian emergencies, technological shifts, and rising socio-economic inequality are further increasing risks for millions of women and girls.
For instance, in 2022, only 0.2 per cent of the global development aid was allocated to programmes focused on prevention of violence against women, and funding has further fallen in 2025.
Widespread And Lifelong Risks
Women subjected to violence face unintended pregnancies, a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections and experiencing depression.
Sexual and reproductive health services are an important entry point for survivors to receive the high-quality care they need.
The report underscores the reality that violence against women begins early and risks persist throughout life.
For example, in the past 12 months alone, 12.5 million adolescent girls 15 to 19 years of age or 16 per cent have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner.
While violence occurs in every country, women in least developed, conflict affected, and climate vulnerable settings are disproportionately affected.
For example, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) reports 38 per cent prevalence of intimate partner violence in the past year — more than three times the global average of 11 per cent.
A Call For Action And Accountability
More countries than ever are now collecting data to inform policies, yet significant gaps remain, particularly on non-partner sexual violence, marginalised groups such as indigenous women, migrants, and women with disabilities, as well as data from fragile and humanitarian settings.
“Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been forever altered,” said Dr Tedros.
“Empowering women and girls is not optional, it’s a prerequisite for peace, development, and health. A safer world for women is a better world for everyone.”
Progress has been achieved in countries where there is political commitment to do so.
For example, Cambodia is implementing a national project that will update legislation on domestic violence, improve service delivery, quality and access, refurbish shelters and leverage digital solutions in schools and communities to promote prevention especially with adolescents.
Ecuador, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda have developed costed national action plans.
Legislative and advocacy actions in these countries have contributed to some domestic financing for this issue, signalling increased political commitment at a time of decreasing aid budgets.
To accelerate global progress and deliver meaningful change for the lives of affected women and girls, the report calls for decisive government action and funding to:
- Scale up evidence-based prevention programmes.
- Strengthen survivor-centred health, legal and social services.
- Invest in data systems to track progress and reach the most at-risk groups.
- Enforce laws and policies empowering women and girls.
