A new WHO report has delivered an alarming global reality. nearly 840 million women have endured partner or sexual violence in their lifetime. Despite two decades of international commitments, the scale of abuse remains largely unchanged, exposing a failure of systems meant to protect half the world’s population.

In a deeply troubling revelation, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 840 million women worldwide have experienced partner violence or sexual violence at some point in their lives. The new study, based on two decades of data from 168 countries, shows that despite global commitments and policies, this number has barely shifted, exposing how persistent and widespread the problem remains.

The findings show that in just the past year, 316 million women aged 15 and older — about 11% of all women in that age group — faced physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner. Even more concerning is the fact that progress in reducing such violence has been extremely slow, with an annual decline of only 0.2% over the last twenty years.

For the first time, the report includes detailed estimates of non-partner sexual violence, meaning assaults committed by someone other than a partner. According to the study, 263 million women have endured such violence since the age of 15. Researchers caution, however, that this number is likely an underestimate, as many survivors remain silent due to stigma, fear, or lack of support systems.

The consequences of this violence ripple far beyond the immediate trauma. Women who face abuse are at higher risk of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety. The report stresses the urgent need to strengthen sexual and reproductive health services, which are often the first and most accessible support channels for survivors.

A particularly alarming finding concerns adolescent girls. Among those aged 15 to 19, 16% reported experiencing physical or sexual violence from a partner in the past year alone. The burden is also disproportionately higher in the world’s least-developed and conflict-affected regions. In some parts of Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), as many as 38% of women reported partner violence in the last year — more than three times the global average.

Another major concern highlighted in the report is the sharp decline in funding. In 2022, only 0.2% of global development aid was directed toward programmes aimed at preventing violence against women. Funding has fallen even further in 2025, despite escalating risks caused by conflict, climate shocks, displacement, and economic stress.

In response, WHO is urging governments to take stronger action — from scaling up evidence-based prevention initiatives to expanding survivor-centred health, legal, and social services. The organization has also released an updated RESPECT Women framework to guide prevention efforts, particularly in humanitarian or resource-constrained settings.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that violence against women is not merely a policy challenge but a fundamental violation of dignity, equality, and human rights. He reiterated that creating a safer world for women ultimately creates a safer, healthier world for everyone.

The message from the data is clear: without significant political will, sustained funding, and community involvement, millions more women will continue to live under the threat of violence. The urgency to act has never been greater.