#16Days to stand in solidarity with women’s rights movements and to #EndFemicide

Femicide is the killing of women because of their sex and/or gender.^[1] Femicides are intentional killings with a gender-related motivation connected to its root causes, which may range from stereotyped gender roles, discrimination towards women and girls, to unequal power relations between women and men in society.^[2]

Globally, an estimated 81,100 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2021.^[3]

While the majority of homicide victims are boys and men (81%), women and girls are disproportionately affected by homicidal violence in the private sphere.^[4]

For women and girls, the most dangerous place is the home where they are supposed to feel the safest. In 2021, around 45,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members. This means that, on average, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family.^[5]

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest number of intimate partner or family-related femicides with 18,100 femicides (17,800 in Asia and 300 in Oceania) in 2021.

UN Women and UNODC’s new report on femicide that was launched ahead of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence sheds light on the prevalence of femicide globally, please read more here.

“Ending deadly violence against women in Asia and the Pacific requires thorough data collection for prevention measures”

UN Women Regional Director a.i., Sarah Knibbs reiterates the importance of data on femicide and femicide watches/observatories in her regional statement on Femicide on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Please read the full statement here.

Stand in solidarity with the CSO-led Campaign #LetsEndFemicide

During the 16 Days of Activism, civil society led campaign carries on its theme from 2021, the theme in 2022 is once again "Ending Femicide" that focuses on women from certain groups who are more vulnerable. The campaign calls everyone to take action to end femicide, #LetsEndFemicide. See here to learn more and get involved.

"Femicide is the worst form of violence against women and girls. However, it is part of a bigger picture of violence which is often excused, condoned in societies, and does not get the accountability and punishment that it should by the states. It is something that needs far more attention." Melissa Alvarado, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Program Manager for Ending Violence against Women, shared in a live interview with Arirang TV. The live interview was held on the 8th of December with also presence of Angela ME, Chief of the Research and Trend Analysis Branch of the UNODC.

In her interview, Melissa Alvarado highlighted importance of data on Femicide as well as effective response and prevention mechanisms to end VAWG including Femicide. You can watch the full interview below.

Are you ready to act to #EndFemicide through #16Days?

Femicide, the most extreme form of violence against women and girls, is a violation of the most basic human right, the right to life, and it must stop. We need dramatic acceleration in efforts to end violence against women and girls. 

If you are committed to end all forms of violence against women and girls including femicide, please watch and share this short awareness-raising video widely. 

Femicide

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[1] UN General Assembly, violence against women, its causes and consequences, a/71/398, p. 9.

[2] UNODC and UN Women, Statistical framework for measuring the gender-related killing of women and girls (also referred to as “femicide/feminicide”) (Vienna, 2021)

[3] https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2022/11/femicide-feminicide

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.