MANILA, 25 November 2025 — As the world marks the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, updated data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that violence against women and girls remains alarmingly widespread. Globally, nearly one in three girls and women have experienced intimate partner or sexual violence during their lifetime − a figure that has barely changed since 2000. These latest findings underscore an indisputable reality: despite efforts made in ending gender-based violence, it continues to be a persistent − yet preventable − social and public health emergency, as well as a grave human rights violation.
Violence has profound and lasting effects on girls’ and women’s health and development − contributing to depression, injury, poor reproductive outcomes, and limiting their full participation in society.
Gender-based violence in the WHO Western Pacific Region
In the WHO Western Pacific Region, more than a quarter of girls and women experienced some form of intimate partner or sexual violence in their lifetime. When it comes to intimate partner violence, or IPV, 9.0% of girls and women aged 15−49 experienced IPV in the past 12 months, with country estimates ranging from 1.2% to 42.2%. Meanwhile, 4.3% experienced non-partner sexual violence in the last 12 months, and 9.4% in their lifetime. Nearly one in five girls and women will have experienced IPV in their lifetime, which is lower than the global average of about one in four women. However, in several Pacific island countries and areas, the prevalence of lifetime IPV is as high as one in two women, among the highest in the world.
“The scourge of violence against women and girls remains one of the most egregious violations of human rights and a serious threat to health,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “This updated evidence reinforces all the more clearly where action is urgently needed. Governments and communities must use data to drive stronger policies, scale up prevention efforts and invest in health system readiness, so every girl is protected and woman is empowered.”
Health system readiness is key to ending gender-based violence
While these numbers remain grim, findings from a WHO survey on Health System Readiness to Respond to Interpersonal Violence point to an encouraging policy environment. Many countries are integrating strategies to prevent violence against women and girls into their national multisectoral plans, and acknowledging the key role that health systems must play in tackling this societal problem.
However, the survey also highlights challenges in implementing these strategies, with significant gaps in the availability of essential services and the strength of data systems across the Region:
- While some countries include services for IPV and post-rape care in national plans, many still need to ensure survivors can reliably access these critical health and social services.
- Comprehensive post-rape care remains limited, and only a small number of countries ensure that these services are available in every subnational area − resulting in stark geographic inequities in access to care.
- Data gaps continue to hinder monitoring and accountability, with just over half of countries having conducted recent surveys on violence against women, and even fewer maintaining usable homicide data.
“Every data point represents a person, and every statistic helps us understand where action – including from the health sector – will have the greatest impact,” said Dr Hiromasa Okayasu, Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.
Dr Okayasu urged the health sector to demonstrate leadership in helping to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. This includes ensuring survivor-centred services and sensitizing health-care providers about their key role. “Furthermore, governments and policy-makers must strengthen legal and policy mechanisms that incorporate the role of the health sector. All partners must collaborate to invest in prevention. Shifting harmful gender and social norms, promoting safe environments, and income-strengthening are among the most powerful steps we can take today,” he said.
Building safer and healthier futures for all − especially women and girls
WHO calls on Member States and partners to collaborate across sectors to:
- Integrate gender-based violence prevention and response into all health and development policies.
- Comprehensively address IPV and sexual violence, and include post-rape care in national plans.
- Develop guidelines for the health system response to girls and women experiencing IPV and/or sexual violence that are consistent with international human rights standards and WHO guidelines.
- Ensure comprehensive post-rape care in medical facilities and in every subnational area.
- Expand health worker training, surveillance systems and evidence-based interventions.
- Collect disaggregated data on violence against women and girls regularly to better inform policy and continue to shine a light on the issue.
“Transforming data into action means turning information into accountability − and accountability into prevention,” said Dr Piukala. “Each commitment made, policy strengthened and service delivered moves us closer to a world where all women and girls are safe, healthy and empowered to thrive. Building safer futures begins with the decisions we make today.”
Note to Editors:
The global estimates can be accessed at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116962
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About WHO in the Western Pacific
The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific works with 38 countries and areas to build strong, resilient health systems. WHO supports evidence-based policy, training and advocacy to promote health, prevent violence and protect vulnerable populations.