A call for action
PREVENTING and responding to violence against women is a human right, gender equality and public health priority. In every country and culture, more action is needed to ensure women in their diversity live a life free of violence and coercion.
Health workers are often the first professionals that women disclose violence to, hence the health sector has a critical role to play.
This International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, followed by the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, WHO (World Health Organisation) is strengthening commitments to address violence against women, including those made as co-lead of the generation equality forum action coalition on gender-based violence, through:
Building evidence
In 2021, WHO and partners released data from the largest ever study of the prevalence of violence against women.
The report, supported by the WHO-UN Women Joint Programme on violence against women data, shows that one in three women in their lifetimes are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner.
Accurate, comparable and robust data is a powerful tool for accountability and action to end violence against women and girls.
Use the WHO interactive database and these new global and regional factsheets to learn more about the prevalence of violence against women across countries, age groups and regions.
Supporting women survivors of violence in the context of COVID-19
Two years of pandemic measures such as lockdowns and disruptions to vital support services have further increased women’s exposure to violence.
If you are worried about someone you know wants to report an incident of violence, or want to know more about what you can do to support women being subjected to violence during COVID-19, WHO has useful guidance.
This short-animated video, produced by PMNCH, Unicef, UN Women and WHO including the UN Special Research Programme HRP,