Violence against women continues to rise worldwide, and digital abuse now threatens the lives of 1.8 billion women and girls, a UN report said ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The report, issued by the World Health Organization and UN partners, found that one in three women—about 840 million—has experienced intimate partner or sexual violence in her lifetime, a figure largely unchanged for over two decades. In the past year alone, 316 million women faced violence from partners, while an estimated 263 million were subjected to sexual violence by non-partners since age 15.
WHO Director-General António Guterres stressed that violence against women is one of the oldest and most neglected forms of injustice, adding that empowering women is essential for peace, development, and health.
The report highlighted a surge in online abuse, including harassment, cyberstalking, defamation, non-consensual image sharing, and deepfakes, fueled by artificial intelligence and weak legal protections. Fewer than 40% of countries have laws to prevent digital violence. Female journalists, politicians, and activists are especially targeted.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous warned that “what starts online does not stay online,” often escalating into real-world threats. The agency called for stronger legislation, accountability for perpetrators, support for survivors, and tech company responsibility to remove harmful content.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed annually on November 25, marking the start of the “16 Days of Activism” campaign, which runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.
