WHO Report: Violence Against Women Still Widespread, Progress Stalled for 20 Years

The findings, unveiled ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November, expose the global failure to protect women and girls despite decades of advocacy, research, and international commitments.

Violence against women remains one of the world’s most pervasive, persistent, and under-addressed human rights violations, with virtually no progress made in two decades, according to a major report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners. The findings, unveiled ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November, expose the global failure to protect women and girls despite decades of advocacy, research, and international commitments.

The report—which synthesizes data from 168 countries between 2000 and 2023—provides the most comprehensive global assessment to date of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence by non-partners. It reveals that violence continues to affect women across every region, every income level, and every age group, with catastrophic implications for their health, safety, and well-being.

A Crisis With Little Progress in 20 Years

The new figures show that nearly 1 in 3 women—approximately 840 million worldwide—have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner or sexual violence from a non-partner in their lifetime. This proportion has barely changed since 2000, highlighting a dramatic underinvestment in prevention and survivor support.

In the past 12 months alone:

• 316 million women (11% of those aged 15+) experienced violence from an intimate partner.

• IPV has declined by just 0.2% per year, an indication of near-zero global progress.

For the first time, WHO has provided country-level and regional estimates of non-partner sexual violence. Globally, 263 million women have experienced rape or sexual assault by someone other than a partner since age 15—though even this is significantly under-reported due to stigma, fear, and lack of support services.

"One of humanity’s oldest injustices"

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the findings as a call to conscience:

“Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices, yet still one of the least acted upon. No society can call itself fair, safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear.”

He stressed that ending violence against women is not optional: “It is a prerequisite for peace, development and health.”

Funding Has Collapsed Despite Mounting Need

The report warns that global funding for preventing violence against women is plummeting, even as humanitarian crises, economic inequality, digital abuse, and conflict increase risks.

Alarming findings include:

• In 2022, only 0.2% of global development aid went to violence-prevention programmes.

• Funding fell even further in 2025, despite rising demand for services.

This collapse in investment is occurring at a time when digital platforms have accelerated online harassment, climate-related disasters are increasing risks of gender-based violence, and global displacement has reached record highs.

Women and Girls Face Lifelong Risks

The health and social impacts of violence are profound and lifelong:

• Higher rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal behaviour

• Greater likelihood of unintended pregnancies

• Increased risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections

• Long-term impacts on education, employment, and community participation

The report also highlights that violence begins early:

• 12.5 million girls aged 15–19 experienced IPV in the past year alone.

• 16% of adolescent girls have already been subjected to physical or sexual violence by a partner.

Children who witness violence in the home are also at higher risk of entering violent relationships later in life.

A Crisis Hitting the Most Vulnerable Hardest

Violence cuts across all borders but disproportionately affects women in:

• Least developed countries

• Conflict and post-conflict settings

• Climate-vulnerable regions

For example, in Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), the past-year prevalence of IPV is 38%—more than three times the global average.

Marginalized groups—including indigenous women, migrants, refugees, and women with disabilities—face even higher risks but remain underrepresented in global data due to major reporting gaps.

Countries With Political Will Are Showing Results

The report highlights that significant progress is possible when countries invest in prevention, legislation, and services:

• Cambodia is updating domestic violence laws, improving shelters, and leveraging digital tools in schools.

• Ecuador, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda have costed national action plans and are increasing domestic financing.

• These examples show that political commitment paired with investment creates measurable results.

What Needs to Happen: Four Urgent Priorities

To accelerate progress and meaningfully protect women and girls, WHO and UN partners urge governments to:

1. Scale up proven prevention programmes

Including school-based initiatives, community mobilization, economic empowerment, and healthy masculinity programmes.

2. Strengthen survivor-centred support systems

Providing accessible, high-quality:

• Health care

• Legal services

• Social protection

• Safe shelters

3. Invest in strong national data systems

So countries can measure prevalence accurately and identify the groups at greatest risk.

4. Enforce laws and policies that uphold women’s rights

Including legal reforms, workplace protections, digital safety measures, and strengthened justice systems.

The report is accompanied by the updated RESPECT Women framework, offering new, evidence-based strategies for violence prevention—including in humanitarian and conflict settings.

Voices From UN Leaders

Dr Sima Bahous, UN Women: “Ending violence against women requires courage, commitment, and collective action.”

Diene Keita, UNFPA: “The cycle of violence ripples across generations. The data show the devastating toll of inaction.”

Catherine Russell, UNICEF: “Many girls experience violence in adolescence, and many children grow up watching violence as a part of daily life. We must break this pattern.”

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Violence against women is preventable—but only with political will, sustained funding, and coordinated global action. WHO warns that the world is at a crossroads: either invest now to protect women and girls or allow another generation to endure preventable harm.