One woman killed every 10 minutes by lover - report

Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide last year, driven by an increase in killings in countries such as Kenya, a UN report has said.

The report by UN Women said globally, 85,000 women and girls are killed intentionally in 2023.

It said globally, 140 women and girls die every day at the hands of their partners or close relatives, which means one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said killing of women by intimate partners has worsened.

The National Police Service says 97 femicide cases were reported in the last three months alone, underscoring the magnitude of the crisis.

The UN Women report said in 2023, Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide, followed by the Americas and then Oceania.

“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable. We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture and increased funding for women’s rights organisations and institutional bodies,” said UN Women executive director Sima Bahous.

“The new femicide report highlights urgent need for strong criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable, while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms,” said Ghada Waly, executive director of the UN Office On Drugs and Crime.

“At the same time, we must confront and dismantle gender biases, power imbalances and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women.As this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign begins, we must act now to protect women’s lives.”

The report was released ahead of the commencement of the Global 16 Days of activism campaign today.

The campaign, which challenges violence against women and girls, runs every year from November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December 10 (Human Rights Day).

Last week, KNCHR emphasised the growing urgency of addressing femicide.

“The rise in femicide is alarming. It demands a multi-agency approach, including fast-tracking investigations and prosecutions and enacting legislative reforms to deter such heinous acts,” the commission said. KNCHR also spoke against the surge in abductions and kidnappings.

From June to November 2024, the Commission documented 1,376 arbitrary arrests, 610 injuries during demonstrations and 74 cases of enforced disappearances. Of the missing persons, 26 remain unaccounted for, further highlighting the dire state of security.

The report also highlighted abuses during demonstrations, with injuries caused by both security officers and protestors.

KNCHR praised the Inspector-General of Police for acknowledging deaths during the protests and called for expedited investigations and accountability.

On legislative matters, the commission urged Parliament to fasttrack laws addressing the right to life, including the Prevention of Enforced Disappearances Bill, Abolition of the Death Penalty and the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill.

It also urged the government to adopt the Minnesota Protocol to investigate potentially unlawful deaths.