The #MeToo social movement has drawn significant attention to violence against women. Still, violence continues to persist, despite women across the globe who continue to share their stories in public. Greater understanding of the scope of violence against women may compel further action to combat such brutality.
- Estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that three in 10 women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
- According to WHO, 27% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 who have been in a relationship have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner. The organization UN Women indicates that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 243 million women in that age bracket experienced such violence.
- A WHO analysis of data from 2000-2018 found that as many as 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners.
- WHO data indicates 6% of women across the globe report having been sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner.
- A 2013 study from the WHO found that women who had been physically or sexually abused were 1.5 times more likely to have a sexually transmitted infection compared to women who had not experienced partner violence.
- A 2021 report from the United Nations indicates that domestic violence against women increased to unprecedented levels in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice noted more than an 8% increase of such violence following lockdown orders in 2020.
Violence against women is preventable. Women who need assistance can contact the National Domestic Violence hotline 24/7/365 at 1-800-799-7233.
