Violence against women and girls continues to be one of the most widespread, persistent, and devastating human rights violations worldwide. As UN Women details, at least one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member every 10 minutes. What’s going on here in the United States is nothing short of appalling. A rape occurs every 68 seconds, and every nine seconds, some man batters a woman. Individually, these figures would outline a severe societal crisis. They represent an all too common trend that requires a national, systemic fix.
Over half of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This statistic shows how dire the need is to tackle domestic violence and IPV as the public health crisis that they are. This violence is not just numbers on a page, it is a real and tragic women’s reality for millions of women and families around the globe.
In recent years, high-profile cases have shined a spotlight once again on the epidemic of sexual violence and abuse across all walks of life. In 2023, a civil jury ruled that Donald Trump sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll. This ruling crams another credible accusation against him on the growing list. Hundreds of women have accused Trump of groping, sexual harassment and sexual assault. This underscores the pervasiveness of abuse that cuts even through the highest pinnacles of power.
Similarly, Andrew Cuomo faced allegations of sexual harassment and groping while serving as governor of New York, further exposing the culture of silence surrounding abuse. High-profile abusers in the entertainment industry like Harvey Weinstein and Sean Combs now have convictions on their records. They were complicit in extending and enabling sexual violence against women. Weinstein’s retrial conviction was for his decades-long pattern of sexual abuse. At the same time, Combs had been found guilty for various other charges related to his participation in unspeakable sexual abuse, facilitated by his staff.
R. Kelly’s case serves as yet another chilling reminder that this is far too common. Once convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking, the singer was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, plus 20 additional years for producing child exploitation material and enticing minors to engage in sexual activity. His advocacy stands as a living example of the systemic exploitation that happens all too frequently without consequences.
Religious institutions are likewise not exempt from this crisis. The Southern Baptist Church has been rightfully condemned just this year for the hundreds of cases of sexual abuse perpetuated by its ministers. An NPR report from 2022 highlighted that the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee “mishandled allegations of sex abuse, stonewalled numerous survivors and prioritized protecting the SBC from liability.” This trend of institutional preservation over victim safety sets a tone in which abuse can fester without fear of reprisal.
Allegations against US and Canadian residential schools for Indigenous children have made international headlines. They have been held accountable for their long-standing sexual abuse of former students. These disclosures further prove that institutional practices and policies routinely perpetrate violence against women and children. Yet this reality requires deeply structural change.
The crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein represent the unique scale and complexity of sexual exploitation. His operations exploited global financial and transportation networks to transport, control, abuse, and silence victims. His case is yet another litmus test on our society’s failure to protect vulnerable individuals from predatory behaviors.
The numbers of violence against women are extremely alarming. Each day, at least 137 women or girls are killed by an intimate partner or family member around the world. This disturbing undercount has far-reaching consequences and should call all policymakers, community leaders, and society as a whole to action.
“One woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by their intimate partner or family member.” – UN Women
The urgency for action is clear. Violence against women is pervasive in all facets of society. We need to create thoughtful, nuanced strategies to address the root causes of this epidemic and provide holistic support to survivors. Community education, legislative reform and victim resources are crucial parts of a strong response.