Shocking facts about violence against women: One in 3 victims of physical or sexual violence

Almost one in 3 women worldwide is subject to physical or sexual violence During her lifetime, a pervasive criminal behavior that increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization warned today.

This UN agency has encouraged governments to prevent violence, improve services provided to victims, and address economic inequalities, which often result in women and girls being trapped in violent relationships.

Boys should be taught in school about the need to show mutual respect in relationships and mutual consent in sex, WHO officials point out.

“Violence against women is endemic in every country and culture, affecting millions of women and their families, and has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said World Health Organization Director-General Andrew Gembreses.

About 31% of women aged 15-49, or 852 million women, have experienced physical or sexual violence, according to the WHO, citing the largest such report, which includes national data and studies from 2000-2008. .

A spouse or partner is the most common perpetrator, while a disproportionate number of victims are recorded in the poorest countries, the report said. The actual data are probably much higher due to the misrepresentations of sexual abuse incidents.

“These numbers are very shocking and really a kind of warning to governments to do much more to prevent this violence,” said Claudia Garcia-Moreno, the report’s author.

In some areas, more than 50 percent of women face some form of violence, she told Reuters, citing Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The countries with the highest incidence of such crimes are Kiribati, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Afghanistan, according to WHO figures.

The lowest rates are recorded in Europe, up to 23%, over a lifetime.

Violence begins at a “worryingly young” age, the WHO says.

One in 4 underage girls, aged 15-19, who were in a relationship, fell victim to either physical or sexual violence, notes Garcia-Moreno.

“This is a very important and creative moment in someone’s life. “And we know that the effects of this violence can last a lifetime and can affect physical and mental health and lead to unwanted pregnancies and other complications.”

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