WHO: Nearly 1 in 3 Women Worldwide Have Experienced Violence

Nearly one in three women worldwide have experienced domestic or sexual violence, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO report, released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, covers data from 2000 to 2023 in 168 countries.

The report reveals that approximately 840 million women have experienced such violence at some point in their lives. In the last 12 months alone, 316 million women aged 15 and over have experienced violence from their partner.

Progress in reducing domestic violence is slow, with an annual decrease of only 0.2% in the last 20 years. The report also includes estimates of sexual violence by third parties, revealing that 263 million women have experienced such violence since the age of 15.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, stressed that no society can claim to be just or healthy when half of its population lives in fear.

The report warns of the collapse of funding for violence prevention initiatives, particularly in areas vulnerable to humanitarian crises and climate change. In 2022, only 0.2% of global development aid was allocated to these programs.