The World Health Organization has issued a stark new warning that violence against women and girls remains widespread across the globe, with the latest data showing that nearly one in three has experienced intimate partner violence or sexual violence at some point in their lives. The agency said on Tuesday that the global rate has barely changed in 25 years despite decades of advocacy, legislation and public awareness campaigns.
In a new release, the WHO described the findings as confirmation of an “indisputable reality” that gender based violence continues to be a major public health crisis and a severe violation of human rights. The organisation noted that such violence leaves lasting physical, emotional and economic damage, contributing to depression, injury and negative reproductive health outcomes, while also curbing women’s ability to participate fully in their communities.
Focusing on the Western Pacific Region, the WHO said the burden remains heavy, with more than a quarter of women and girls reporting they have faced intimate partner or sexual violence. Around 9 percent of women aged 15 to 49 experienced intimate partner violence in the past year alone, although national figures vary widely from just over 1 percent to more than 40 percent. An additional 4.3 percent suffered sexual violence by non partners in the last 12 months, and nearly 10 percent have faced such abuse at least once in their lives.
Overall, close to one in five women in the region has experienced intimate partner violence during her lifetime, a rate lower than the global average but still considered deeply concerning. In several Pacific island countries, the WHO said the situation is especially difficult, with lifetime rates reaching one in two women, some of the highest levels recorded anywhere in the world.
Saia Ma’u Piukala, the WHO’s regional director for the Western Pacific, called the data a powerful reminder of the scale of the problem. He described violence against women and girls as one of the most serious threats to health and human rights, saying governments and communities must strengthen policies, expand prevention efforts and improve health system readiness so that every woman and girl receives protection and support.
A related WHO survey assessing the readiness of health systems to respond to interpersonal violence found progress in some areas but identified major gaps. Many countries are incorporating strategies to address gender based violence into national plans, yet implementation remains uneven. While some health systems now include intimate partner violence services and post rape care in their policies, consistent access to these services is still far from guaranteed.
Only a small number of countries provide comprehensive post rape care nationwide, creating significant disparities between urban and rural areas. Data collection also remains weak. Just over half of countries have conducted recent national surveys on violence against women, and even fewer maintain reliable homicide data, making it difficult to track trends, evaluate policy effectiveness and ensure accountability.
