One in Three Women Worldwide Faces Violence

  A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that nearly one in three women globally—around 840 million women—have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or another person at some point in their lives. The report, released on Wednesday, further states that in the past year alone, approximately 316 million women and girls aged 15 and above faced physical or sexual violence from their intimate partners. This figure represents about 11% of the global population in this age group. In a statement accompanying the report, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that violence against women remains one of humanity’s oldest and most widespread injustices, yet it continues to be insufficiently addressed. “No society can call itself fair, safe, or healthy when half of its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not only a policy issue—it is about dignity, equality, and human rights. Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been permanently changed.” Released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the report analyzes data collected from 168 countries between 2000 and 2023. According to the report, only 0.2% of global aid in 2022 was allocated to programs aimed at preventing violence against women. This funding has decreased even further this year due to major cuts in foreign aid and development funds by U.S. President Donald Trump. The report also warns that women and girls living in conflict zones or fragile settings are at significantly higher risk of sexual and domestic violence. Armed conflicts, prolonged humanitarian crises, and environmental disasters in recent years have further increased these dangers. “Displacement and insecurity make women even more vulnerable to violence,” the report notes.