Femicide: 21,700 African women killed by loved ones in 2023

No fewer than 21,700 African women were reportedly killed by people close to them, according to a report by the United Nations (UN).

A woman is killed by a partner or relative every 10 minutes worldwide in 2023, the United Nations warned Monday, stressing that femicides remained at “alarmingly high levels”.

Almost 85,000 women and girls were murdered by people last year, according to a joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Women Agency published Monday.

The UN report showed that of all the continents researched, African women are usually at the receiving end, as about over 140 African women are killed per day, and one every 10 minutes by those closest to them.

About 60 per cent- or more than 51,000 women and girls- died at the hands of their partner or relative, the report found.

“The home remains the most dangerous place for women and girls in terms of the risk of lethal victimisation,” the report said.

While men were four times more likely than women to fall victim to homicide – forming 80 per cent of all murder victims last year – they more often than not died at the hands of a stranger.

Despite efforts in some countries to prevent femicides, they remain “at alarmingly high levels” due to deep-rooted gender inequality and damaging stereotypes.

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In Nigeria, a non governmental agency against femicide, Fame Foundation, has decried the increasing cases of femicide in the country.

“Many cases go unreported, leaving families devastated and perpetuating a culture of silence” the foundation said.

Femicide in Nigeria is at a critical stage, recently the Federal Government said Nigeria recorded 27,698 SGBV cases in the last three years.

“We must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women,” UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said in a statement accompanying the report.

Data from countries including France indicated that femicides are often the “culmination” of repeated episodes of violence and can be prevented by measures such as restraining orders.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said robust legislation, greater government accountability, and increased funding for women’s rights organisations and institutional bodies are needed to stem violence against women.