November 28th 2024.
Every 10 minutes, a woman or girl's life is taken by someone who is supposed to love and protect them - their intimate partner or close relative. Can you imagine that? Six lives lost every hour, adding up to more than 140 deaths every day, all around the world. These shocking figures have been revealed in a new report by UN Women and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which discovered that a staggering 51,000 women and girls were intentionally killed by an intimate partner or family member just last year.
For Alexis*, these numbers hit close to home, as she and her children were almost among the victims. It wasn't until she found herself feeling completely powerless and controlled in her relationship that she realized her ex was manipulating and abusing her. But even then, she blamed herself and believed she was the problem. It wasn't until he turned his aggression towards their children that she knew she had to leave.
"When I finally managed to escape, his behavior went from 'I will control you' to 'I will destroy you'. I felt like a dead woman walking," she shared with 9news.com.au. According to the report, two thirds of the 85,000 femicides that occurred in 2023 were at the hands of a partner or relative. This is a global crisis, with Africa reporting the highest number of victims at 21,700, followed by Asia with 18,500, the Americas with 8,300, and Europe with 2,300. Even Oceania, with a population of just over 40 million, recorded about 300 femicides in 2023.
Although the report did not include specific data for Australia, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported that on average, one woman was killed every 11 days by an intimate partner in 2022-23. But according to Safe and Equal CEO Tania Farha, these numbers are likely much higher, as many cases go unreported, particularly those involving First Nations women. In fact, she believes that the true number of deaths could be far greater, including those who are considered "invisible victims".
For those who do manage to leave a domestic or family violence situation, it is often the most dangerous time for them. "It's never as simple as just 'leaving'," Alexis said. "It's like a game of cat and mouse. There is this overwhelming fear of what will happen next." She recalls her ex threatening to harm her, take the children away, and even showing up unannounced at their school and swimming lessons to intimidate her.
When she reached out to the police for help and reported her ex's past abuse and escalating behavior, Alexis felt dismissed, gaslit, and even blamed for the situation. Sadly, this is a common experience for many women fleeing violence. Tania Farha believes that until there is a comprehensive and coordinated approach to preventing and addressing family violence, women like Alexis will never be truly safe.
"If we want to prevent more senseless deaths, we need to prioritize supporting victim-survivors, working with perpetrators, and addressing the root causes of family violence," she stated. "Without this, these tragic statistics will continue to rise – both locally and across the world." For those who need support, the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service is available at 1800RESPECT. And for the latest news, sport, politics, and weather, be sure to download the 9news app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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