Report Released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Over 50,000 Deaths Worldwide Last Year
Over the past year, an average of 140 women per day worldwide were killed by close men such as husbands or family members.
On the 25th (local time), the Associated Press cited a report released by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. According to this report, more than 51,000 women were killed last year by intimate partners, spouses, or family members. This figure is over 2,000 higher than the previous year (around 48,800).
The two UN agencies stated that the region with the highest number of such murders was Africa. In Africa alone, about 21,700 women lost their lives last year due to intimate partners, spouses, or family members. Africa also had the highest victim rate relative to population, with 2.9 victims per 100,000 people. Following Africa, the Americas had 1.6 female victims per 100,000 population, and Oceania had 1.5. In contrast, Asia had a relatively low rate of 0.8, and Europe had 0.6 per 100,000.
In Europe and the Americas, most cases involved intimate partners or spouses deliberately killing women in private settings. However, murders where men were victims mostly occurred outside the home and were committed by non-family members, differing from the pattern seen with female victims. The report also pointed out that although women accounted for 20% of all homicide victims last year, about 60% of these women were killed by intimate partners, spouses, or family members, indicating that lethal domestic violence causes significantly greater harm to women than men.
The two UN agencies added that the increase in the number of victims last year compared to 2022 might be due to better data collection rather than an actual rise in victims. Nevertheless, the agencies lamented, "Women and girls worldwide continue to be affected by extreme forms of gender-based violence, and no region is exempt," emphasizing that "the home is the most dangerous place for women and girls."
Meanwhile, in South Korea, dating homicide and dating violence have been increasing every year. Last year, at least 138 women were killed by men in close relationships, and among them, 17 had reported to the police but were not protected and ultimately killed. The “Gauge of Anger” report by Korea Women’s Hotline, which compiled these statistics, recorded that over 15 years since 2009, at least 1,379 women were killed by intimate male partners such as spouses or lovers. Furthermore, when considering victims beyond the women themselves, including children, parents, friends, and unreported crimes, the actual number of victims is estimated to be much higher.
In January, the National Police Agency announced that the number of suspects arrested for dating violence last year was 13,939, a 55.7% increase compared to 2020 (8,951). Reports of dating violence crimes also increased by about 27,000 over four years, reaching 77,150 last year. However, the proportion of suspects subjected to detention investigations has remained at 1-2% for several years. The detention investigation rate for dating violence, which was about 2.3% in 2020, dropped to 1.7% in 2022 and slightly rose to 2.2% last year. In 2023 alone, out of 13,939 dating violence suspects arrested, only 310 were detained for investigation. The low detention rate is attributed to the fact that many dating violence cases involve assault and threats, which are offenses requiring the victim’s complaint to proceed. Regarding types of dating violence crimes last year, assault and injury accounted for 9,448 cases, making up 68% of the total.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
