Domestic Abuse

Nearly 769 million women and 290 million children are the victims of domestic violence each year.¹ The World Health Organization estimates that one in every three women worldwide have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence carried out by a partner. Forty-two percent of women who report experiencing violence at the hand of a partner also report sustaining an injury.² Aside from death and physical injury, domestic abuse against women can result in long-term damage to mental, emotional and reproductive health.³ Girls who were married at a young age are particularly vulnerable to domestic abuse.⁴ One third of girls ages 15 to 19 report physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hand of their husband.⁵ Adolescent boys also experiences these forms of abuse, but are two times less likely than young women to have been subjected to intimate partner violence. Nearly half of young women worldwide — almost 126 million — believe it can be acceptable for a husband to strike his wife.⁶ Globally, domestic violence costs approximately $9 trillion in economic output annually.⁷ People with a limited educational background, previous exposure to domestic abuse or cultural attitudes tolerant of gender inequality are more likely to become perpetrators of domestic violence.⁸