Global Crisis: New Report Reveals 840 Million Women Have Endured Violence

Violence against women remains one of the world’s most pervasive human rights violations and progress in addressing it has been “stagnant for two decades,” a new landmark report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners warns.

According to the global study, an estimated 840 million women, nearly one in three worldwide, have experienced intimate partner or sexual violence in their lifetime, a figure that has barely shifted since 2000. In the past year alone, 316 million women, representing 11% of those aged 15 and older, faced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner. The report shows that reductions in intimate partner violence have been alarmingly slow, averaging only a 0.2% annual decline over the last 20 years.

For the first time, the study also includes national and regional estimates of sexual violence committed by non-partners. It finds 263 million women have experienced such violence since age 15, though researchers caution that the true figure is likely higher due to stigma, fear and pervasive under-reporting.

“Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices, yet still one of the least acted upon,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “No society can call itself fair, safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear… A safer world for women is a better world for everyone.”

Funding Drops as Needs Increase

Released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on 25 November, the report draws from data spanning 2000 to 2023 across 168 countries. It offers the most comprehensive picture to date of both intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence.

However, despite growing evidence showing that prevention programs work, the report warns that funding for such interventions is collapsing. In 2022, just 0.2% of global development aid was allocated to preventing violence against women, and contributions fell even further in 2025.

This funding decline comes at a time when conflict, climate shocks, widening inequality and humanitarian crises are increasing risks for millions of women and girls worldwide.

Far-Reaching and Lifelong Consequences

Violence inflicts deep and lasting physical, emotional and economic harm. Women who experience abuse face higher risks of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, depression and other long-term health issues. The report highlights the critical role of sexual and reproductive health services as safe spaces where survivors can first access care and referrals.

The crisis begins early. In the last 12 months alone, 12.5 million adolescent girls aged 15 to 19, around 16% of this age group, experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner.

Although violence affects women everywhere, the burden is heaviest in least-developed, conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable regions. Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) reported a staggering 38% prevalence of intimate partner violence in the past year, more than triple the global average.

Uneven Data, Emerging Progress

While more countries are collecting data to guide policies, major gaps remain, especially on non-partner sexual violence and the experiences of marginalized groups such as indigenous women, migrants and women with disabilities. Data from humanitarian and fragile contexts also remains limited.

Still, several countries are demonstrating political will and tangible progress. Cambodia is making significant strides by overhauling its domestic violence legislation, expanding service delivery and introducing digital tools in schools to strengthen violence-prevention efforts. Other countries including Ecuador, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda have developed costed national action plans that incorporate domestic financing, a notable achievement at a time when global aid budgets are shrinking.

The report urges governments to take urgent and coordinated action, calling for the scaling up of evidence-based violence prevention programmes, the strengthening of survivor-centred health, legal and social services, the expansion of data systems to identify and support the most at-risk groups and the enforcement of laws and policies that protect and empower women and girls.