Violence against women is pervasive in the Americas, new estimates show – Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Report on Violence Against Women in the Americas: A Critical Barrier to Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: Failure to Meet SDG 5.2

A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners indicates that the Region of the Americas is failing to make sufficient progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. Data compiled from 2000 to 2023 reveals that violence remains a persistent crisis, directly undermining gender equality (SDG 5), public health (SDG 3), and peaceful societies (SDG 16). The findings underscore the urgent need for accelerated, multi-sectoral action to address this violation of human rights and impediment to sustainable development.

Prevalence and Impact on Sustainable Development

The estimates, based on data from 29 countries in the Americas, present a stark picture of the scale of the problem, with significant negative impacts on multiple SDGs.

• Overall Prevalence: One in three women (33%) aged 15 and older in the Region has experienced physical or sexual violence, a direct contradiction to the aims of SDG 5.
• Intimate Partner Violence: One in four women (25%) aged 15-49 has been subjected to physical or sexual violence by a partner, highlighting a critical area for intervention to achieve SDG 5.2.
• Non-Partner Sexual Violence: One in eight women has experienced sexual violence from a non-partner, indicating a broader societal challenge to ensuring safety and justice under SDG 16.
• Youth Vulnerability: 21% of adolescent girls and young women aged 15-19 have experienced partner violence, jeopardizing their future health (SDG 3) and educational opportunities (SDG 4).

Analysis of Progress Towards SDG Target 5.2

Despite increased awareness, progress towards eliminating violence against women has been critically slow. The global prevalence of intimate partner violence has seen a negligible decline of only 0.2% per year over the past two decades. At this rate, it is highly unlikely that countries in the Americas will achieve SDG Target 5.2 by 2030. The report notes that shame and stigma contribute to underreporting, particularly for sexual violence, suggesting the actual figures are likely much higher. This data gap itself is a challenge to monitoring progress on SDG targets effectively.

Strategic Frameworks for SDG Acceleration

To address this crisis, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) advocates for the implementation of evidence-based strategies that align with the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The RESPECT framework outlines seven key interventions:

1. Relationship skills strengthening: Fostering healthy relationships contributes to peaceful societies (SDG 16).
2. Empowerment of women and girls: A core component of achieving gender equality (SDG 5).
3. Services ensured: Providing health and justice services is essential for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
4. Poverty reduced: Economic stability is a protective factor against violence and a key goal of SDG 1 (No Poverty).
5. Enabling environments (schools, workplaces, public spaces) created: This supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
6. Child and adolescent abuse prevented: Breaking the intergenerational cycle of violence is crucial for SDG 16.2.
7. Transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms: Addressing the root causes of inequality is fundamental to achieving SDG 5.

The health sector’s role is identified as critical for achieving SDG 3, through early identification, first-line support, and high-quality clinical care for survivors, utilizing tools such as the WHO LIVES training curriculum.

Multi-Stakeholder Actions and Partnerships (SDG 17)

Achieving SDG 5.2 requires robust partnerships, as exemplified by the collaborative development of this report. PAHO’s support for countries in the Americas demonstrates SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in action:

• Promoting the strategic use of data for decision-making and advocacy.
• Supporting the development of national policies and plans aligned with SDG targets.
• Strengthening health system capacities to respond to survivors.
• Facilitating regional dialogue to scale up effective interventions.

An upcoming event for the 16 Days of Activism 2025, co-hosted by PAHO, UN Women, and the World Bank, will further leverage this partnership model to foster dialogue on effective interventions to eliminate violence against women and girls, reinforcing the shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This is the most central SDG addressed in the article. The entire text focuses on the prevalence, impact, and prevention of violence against women and girls, which is a primary obstacle to achieving gender equality. The article explicitly mentions that countries are unlikely to meet the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against women.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly connects violence against women to severe health consequences. It states that violence has “severe and long-lasting impacts, including physical injuries, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, depression, and, in the most extreme cases, femicide.” The role of the health sector in providing care and support to survivors is also highlighted, linking the issue directly to public health and well-being.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant as it aims to “Significantly reduce all forms of violence.” The article discusses the persistence of violence against women as a crisis that requires “national multisectoral policies” and “evidence-based strategies” to prevent and respond. It calls for action to break cycles of abuse and support survivors, which are core components of building peaceful and just societies.

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

• 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.

  This target is explicitly mentioned in the article: “It is unlikely that countries in the Americas will reach Sustainable Development Goal 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women.” The entire article’s data on physical, sexual, and intimate partner violence directly relates to this target.

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  The article’s mention of “depression” as a long-lasting impact of violence directly connects to the mental health and well-being component of this target. The trauma from violence is a significant contributor to poor mental health outcomes for women.

• Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.

  The article identifies “sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies” as consequences of violence and underscores the “urgency for action… especially strengthening timely access to post-rape care.” This directly relates to the need for accessible sexual and reproductive health services for survivors.

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

  The article’s core subject is the high prevalence of physical and sexual violence. The mention of “femicide” as the most extreme outcome of this violence directly aligns with the goal of reducing violence-related death rates.

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

• Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence (Indicator 5.2.1)

  The article provides specific data points that serve as this indicator: “one in four women aged 15-49 has experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner,” and “21% of those aged 15-19 experiencing partner violence.” The report it cites, “Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2023,” is a tool for measuring this indicator.

• Prevalence of Non-Partner Sexual Violence (Indicator 5.2.2)

  This is measured by the statistic that “one in eight has suffered sexual violence from someone other than a partner.” The article emphasizes that shame and stigma lead to underreporting, suggesting this indicator is a minimum estimate.

• Violence-related Death Rate (Indicator 16.1.1)

  The mention of “femicide” as the “most extreme cases” of violence against women implies the use of intentional homicide rates, specifically against women, as a key indicator of progress (or lack thereof) in eliminating violence.

• Data Collection on Violence Against Women

  The article implicitly points to the importance of data collection as a foundational activity for measurement. Dr. Jarbas Barbosa is quoted saying, “Collecting high-quality data on violence against women is the first step toward giving this important issue the visibility and urgency it requires.” The entire report discussed is an effort to provide this data.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: paho.org