Protesters worldwide demand end to violence against women – Al Jazeera

Global Report on Violence Against Women and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Global Call to Action

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, November 25, global protests highlighted the urgent need for public action against gender-based violence. This issue represents a significant impediment to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) on Gender Equality and Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Femicide Statistics: A Direct Challenge to SDG 5

A joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women reveals alarming statistics that directly contradict the aims of SDG Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. The findings indicate a severe lack of progress in protecting female lives.

1. Annual Fatalities: Approximately 50,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members in the last year.
2. Proportion of Homicides: These deaths account for 60 percent of all female homicides globally.
3. Daily Toll: The data equates to the murder of 137 women per day, or roughly one every 10 minutes.

The Home as a Locus of Violence: Contradicting SDG 11

The report underscores a critical failure in achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which aims to create safe and inclusive living spaces. The home, which should be a place of safety, is identified as the most dangerous location for women and girls regarding the risk of homicide.

• A stark contrast is seen in male homicide victims, where only 11 percent were killed by an intimate partner or family member.
• The persistence of femicide, with no signs of improvement, indicates that private spheres are failing to provide the security necessary for sustainable community life.

Systemic Failures in Justice and Peace (SDG 16)

The continued high rate of femicide points to systemic failures within justice and security institutions, undermining the core principles of SDG 16. The goal to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates (Target 16.1) is not being met for women and girls. The data reflects a lack of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions capable of preventing gender-based killings.

Emerging Challenges: Technology-Facilitated Violence

The report also highlights how technological advancements have created new and exacerbated existing forms of violence against women, posing a modern challenge to achieving gender equality and safety.

• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Doxxing
• Deepfake videos

These digital forms of abuse further threaten the well-being and security of women, requiring an updated approach to fulfilling the commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals in an increasingly digital world.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to two Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality – This goal is central to the article, which focuses on the “persistence of violence against women” and the global call to “raise awareness about all forms of abuse targeting women and girls.” The statistics provided on femicide and killings by intimate partners directly relate to achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – This goal is relevant as it aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, which includes reducing all forms of violence and death rates. The article’s discussion of homicide rates among women (“50,000 women and girls were killed”) and the failure to see improvement (“no signs of improvement”) highlights challenges related to justice and safety.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus, the following specific targets can be identified:

• 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. The article directly supports this target by highlighting the prevalence of violence in the private sphere, stating, “The home remains the most dangerous place for women and girls.” It also mentions new forms of violence exacerbated by technology, such as “nonconsensual image sharing, doxxing, and deepfake videos,” which fall under “all forms of violence.”
• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article provides explicit data on death rates resulting from violence against women. The statement that “About 50,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members last year” is a direct measure of the failure to reduce violence-related deaths, making this target highly relevant.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies and provides data for specific indicators used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 5.2 (Implied): While not stating the official indicator name (5.2.1), the article provides data that measures the most extreme outcome of intimate partner violence. The statistic that “About 50,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members last year” serves as a powerful, albeit tragic, indicator of the prevalence and severity of violence against women by those closest to them.
• Indicator for Target 16.1 (Implied): The article provides data directly related to Indicator 16.1.1 (Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age). It gives the absolute number of female homicide victims (“50,000 women and girls were killed”) and disaggregates the data by perpetrator (“by intimate partners or family members”) and by sex (“60 percent of all women killed globally” vs. “11 percent of male murder victims were killed by someone close to them”). This data is precisely what is used to track progress on reducing violent deaths.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: aljazeera.com