United Nations (UN) data shows that more than 50,000 women and girls are murdered by partners or family members each year. This figure was highlighted at the regional conference on femicide in Southeast Europe, which began Tuesday at the Macedonian Parliament.
According to data presented at the conference, approximately 83,000 women and girls were killed worldwide in 2024. Of these, nearly 50,000 were killed by an intimate partner or family member. This means that, on average, 137 women and girls lose their lives every day in circumstances linked to such violence.
The conference emphasized that femicide should not be treated as an isolated incident or a private family matter. It often represents the ultimate consequence of prolonged gender-based violence—violence that may have previously been reported or recognized, or shown signs of escalation.
Parliament’s Deputy Speaker Vesna Bendevska noted that countries in the region have made progress in improving their legal frameworks, yet serious challenges remain.