A new United Nations report has revealed a deeply alarming rise in femicides and gender-based killings, confirming that more than 50,000 women and girls were killed worldwide in 2024, most of them at the hands of intimate partners or family members. The figure—described by UN officials as a “global emergency”—marks one of the highest annual tolls recorded in the past two decades.
The report, jointly released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women, warns that the world is failing in its responsibility to protect women and girls from escalating violence, both inside the home and across wider society. Gender-related killings, according to the UN, have become “the most extreme manifestation of discrimination and inequality.”
A Crisis Rooted in Homes and Families
The report shows that nearly 60% of the killings occurred within the home, making private spaces the most dangerous environments for women globally. These homicides were committed by husbands, intimate partners, fathers, brothers, or other family members—mirroring trends seen in previous years but now at even more disturbing levels.
According to the findings, cases involving intimate partners alone accounted for over 28,000 deaths, highlighting a persistent pattern of violence rooted in control, power, and entrenched gender inequality.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous described the data as “a devastating reminder that domestic spaces—which should be safe havens—are becoming deadly for far too many women and girls.”
Regional Disparities: Africa and Asia Worst Hit
The report indicates significant regional disparities:
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Africa recorded the highest female homicide rate, with approximately 20,000 women killed—largely due to a combination of intimate partner violence, community-based violence, and conflict-related killings.
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Asia accounted for roughly 17,000 deaths, driven by a mix of domestic violence, dowry-related deaths, and harmful traditional practices.
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The Americas saw over 10,000 killings, with Latin America remaining one of the most dangerous regions for women despite ongoing reforms.
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Europe and Oceania recorded lower numbers comparatively but still showed worrying upward trends.
Experts say these patterns reflect varying cultural, socio-economic, and security factors, as well as differences in law enforcement capacity.
Conflict and Insecurity Fueling Gender-Based Killings
The UN report also highlights that global conflicts—in regions such as Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Haiti—significantly contributed to the rise in killings. Armed groups, militias, and terrorist organisations were implicated in widespread violence targeting women, with many victims suffering sexual assault, torture, or forced disappearance before being killed.
The proliferation of small arms, breakdown of governance, and displacement of millions have created environments where women become even more vulnerable.
Underreporting and Data Gaps: The Hidden Crisis
The UN warns that the true number of gender-related killings is almost certainly higher than 50,000, due to widespread underreporting and poor data systems. Many countries lack reliable methods for tracking femicide, and numerous cases are misclassified as generic homicides, suicides, or accidents.
In some regions, cultural stigma and fear of retaliation prevent families from reporting cases. As a result, thousands of women who die from domestic violence remain invisible in official records.
“A Preventable Tragedy”: UN Calls for Global Action
The UN emphasised that most of these killings were preventable, calling on governments to implement stronger protective measures, including:
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Comprehensive national laws against domestic violence and femicide
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Early-warning systems for survivors at risk
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Increased funding for shelters, crisis centres, and support services
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Training for police, judiciary, and healthcare providers
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Community-based prevention programmes targeting boys and men
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Stronger firearm regulations, particularly in regions with high gun-related femicide rates
UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly stressed that gender-based killings must be treated as a criminal justice priority, not merely a social issue.
“Women are being killed because societies allow it to happen,” she said. “These deaths are not inevitable. They are preventable—if leaders act.”
A Global Demand for Accountability
Human rights groups across the world have responded to the report with renewed calls for accountability. Activists argue that legal systems are failing women, noting that conviction rates for domestic and gender-related homicides remain shockingly low—below 20% in some regions.
They warn that without decisive action, the world risks normalising a form of violence that is claiming more female lives annually than many global conflicts combined.
Nigeria and Africa: The Rising Concern
While the UN report does not provide full country-specific details, regional data suggests that African nations—including Nigeria—are among those most affected. Analysts attribute rising cases to insecurity, harmful cultural practices, economic pressures, and weak law enforcement.
Local advocates say that unless governments invest aggressively in prevention and protection, Africa’s share of global femicides may continue to rise.
A Global Moment of Reckoning
The killing of 50,000 women in a single year marks a grim milestone—and a harsh indictment of global failure to protect half of humanity. The report concludes that without a united international effort involving governments, civil society, religious institutions, and communities, gender-related killings will continue to rise.
As the world marks the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the UN warns that awareness campaigns alone are insufficient.
“This is not just a women’s issue,” the report states. “It is a human rights crisis.”
For now, the numbers stand as a solemn reminder that for millions of women and girls around the world, home is not a sanctuary—and gender remains one of the most dangerous identities to bear.
