Violence against women

The Global Health Observatory

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Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation

Violence against women – particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence – is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights.

Prevention and response

There is growing evidence on what works to prevent violence against women, based on well-designed evaluations. In 2019, WHO and UN Women with endorsement from 12 other UN and bilateral agencies published RESPECT women – a framework for preventing violence against women aimed at policy makers.

Each letter of RESPECT stands for one of seven strategies: Relationship skills strengthening; Empowerment of women; Services ensured; Poverty reduced; Enabling environments (schools, work places, public spaces) created; Child and adolescent abuse prevented; and Transformed attitudes, beliefs and norms.

Violence against women fact sheet

RESPECT women

Ever-partnered women girls subjected to physical/sexual violence in their lifetime

GHO SDGIPVLT Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15–49 years subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in their lifetime SCATTER

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Ever-partnered women girls subjected to physical/sexual violence in the last 12 months

GHO SDGIPV12M Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15–49 years subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months MAP TEMPLATE