More than five women and girls were killed every hour by a family member in 2021, according to a United Nations estimate. They investigated femicide (killing women because they are women) and found an alarming figure of 45,000 women and girls who lost their lives.
Of the 81,000 women and girls who were murdered, 56 percent were killed by their partners, fathers or other relatives. This figure is only an estimate and the actual number of women killed could be much higher.
Last year, the highest number of femicides was counted in Asia with 17,800 deaths. After research, it turned out to be the most dangerous for women in Africa. 2.5 women per 100,000 women in Africa are murdered by a family member. That is a lot higher than in other continents. (1.4 in the Americas; 1.2 in Oceania; 0.8 in Asia and 0.6 in Europe).
Corona pandemic
The corona pandemic would have had a major impact on the number of women and girls killed in Europe and North America, according to the study. “No woman or girl should be afraid to be who they are,” said UN crime director Ghada Waly. “To stop all gender-related killings, we need to do more research, analyze risk and try to understand the mindset of female killers. In this way we can do effective prevention and adapt the justice system”.
Bárbara Jiménez-Santiago, a human rights lawyer, told The Guardian that more complete data on femicides should become available, and that the statistics should include deaths from other forms of violence. For example, a woman who commits suicide after rape, or a girl who is pregnant by rape and dies during childbirth.
impunity
Many countries still have laws that discriminate against women and girls, Jiménez-Santiago added, including laws that allow marital rape or allow rapists to avoid punishment by marrying the victims. “Domestic violence is still considered a private family affair in some parts of the world,” she said. “Police and prosecutors often don’t take things seriously and victim blaming is a global problem. This discourages women and girls from reporting violations. Perpetrators go unpunished and this fuels a culture of impunity that perpetuates further abuse.”
The vast majority (81%) of murders worldwide are committed against men and boys, but they are most at risk of being killed by someone outside their family. Of all male homicide victims in 2021, only about 11% were killed by a partner or relative.
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