Daijiworld Media Network - Geneva

Geneva, Nov 20: A staggering 316 million women and 12.5 million adolescent girls worldwide experienced sexual violence over the past year, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report released Thursday. The findings come ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on November 25.

The report highlights that violence against women continues to be one of the most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises, with little improvement over the past two decades. An estimated 840 million women, nearly one in three, have faced partner or sexual violence in their lifetime, a figure that has remained largely unchanged since 2000.

Key findings from the report:

• Intimate partner violence: 316 million women (11% of women aged 15+) experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner in the past year.
• Adolescent girls: About 12.5 million girls aged 15–19 (16%) suffered physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.
• Non-partner sexual violence: For the first time, national and regional estimates show 263 million women have faced sexual violence by someone other than a partner since age 15, though under-reporting remains significant.
• Slow progress: Intimate partner violence has declined by only 0.2% annually over the last two decades.

WHO director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized, “No society can call itself fair, safe, or healthy while half its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not only a matter of policy; it is a matter of dignity, equality, and human rights.”

The report also notes that funding for programs addressing sexual violence is insufficient, while humanitarian crises, technological changes, and rising socio-economic inequalities are increasing risks for women and girls.

The WHO called for urgent action, including:

• Scaling up evidence-based prevention programs
• Strengthening survivor-centred health, legal, and social services
• Investing in data systems to monitor and reach vulnerable populations
• Enforcing laws and policies that empower women and girls

The report underscores the urgent need for global commitment and resources to address sexual violence and safeguard the rights and dignity of women and girls worldwide.