Crime
UNODC: Over 51,000 Women and Girls Killed by Intimate Partners or Family Members in 2023 – Report
The grim reality of gender-based violence remains stark, as highlighted in the latest Femicide Brief by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women. In 2023, a staggering 85,000 women and girls were deliberately killed worldwide, underscoring the persistent global struggle against deep-seated gender inequalities and violence.
What is Femicide?
Femicide refers to the intentional killing of women and girls motivated by gender-based factors. This includes acts driven by the belief in male dominance, societal expectations of masculinity, and efforts to maintain control, enforce traditional gender roles, or punish women for perceived transgressions.
What Are Femicide Reviews?
Femicide Reviews represent a critical, holistic approach to tackling these heinous crimes. Unlike standard criminal investigations that focus solely on prosecuting offenders, these reviews delve into the broader circumstances surrounding the killings.
Conducted by multi-disciplinary teams, including representatives from law enforcement, healthcare, child welfare, and gender-based violence (GBV) services, these reviews aim to uncover systemic failures. Often, families and social networks of victims actively participate, providing insights that would otherwise go unnoticed.
“Femicide Reviews are about looking beyond individual responsibility to examine social accountability,” explains Patsilí Toledo, lead author of UNODC’s Background Paper on Femicide Review Committees. “They explore missed opportunities for intervention and seek ways to enhance responses across justice, social, and healthcare sectors.”
Why Are They Crucial?
The staggering figure of 85,000 intentional killings of women in 2023 marks the highest toll in two decades. Gender-based violence spans every region, demanding urgent improvements in criminal justice, healthcare, and social systems to prevent further tragedies.
What Sets Femicide Reviews Apart?
Femicide Reviews are unique in their inclusivity and depth. By involving diverse stakeholders, these reviews offer a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to femicide.
Notably, some countries allow victims’ families and friends to play a pivotal role in shaping reviews, sharing critical information, and driving advocacy efforts. These contributions often reveal previously overlooked patterns, such as a perpetrator’s obsessive behavior noted by a coworker or concerning past interactions.
Such insights are invaluable for shaping policies that address root causes and systemic gaps, ultimately preventing future violence.
UNODC’s Efforts to Combat Gender-Based Violence
UNODC plays a crucial role in empowering women to access quality, effective crime prevention and justice systems. Its initiatives include:
- Supporting Femicide Reviews to identify systemic failings.
- Aligning national laws and policies with international standards on violence against women.
- Enhancing the capacity of justice systems to respond effectively to GBV.
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Notable successes include:
- Establishing over 140 multi-sector GBV Response Teams and enacting a domestic violence prevention law in Viet Nam.
- Reforming sexual violence laws in Nepal and creating a GBV committee in Nepal’s Attorney General’s Office.
- Developing a GBV protocol with traditional leaders in South Africa and a national coordination mechanism in Bolivia.
A Call to Action
Femicide Reviews are more than a procedural exercise—they are a lifeline for transformative change. By uncovering systemic failures and amplifying unheard voices, these reviews pave the way for stronger, more effective responses to gender-based violence.
As the world grapples with the staggering toll of femicide, embracing this comprehensive approach is a critical step toward justice, equality, and the protection of countless lives.