One in three women still suffer from it, according to the World Health Organization

840 million womenNearly a third of people living around the world have been victims of physical, psychological or sexual violence at the hands of their partner, or They were sexually assaulted By a third party. These are the conclusions of a report by the World Health Organization (from), which warns against Lack of progress In the past 25 years.

The work analyzed data collected between 2000 and 2023 in 168 countries, and determined that the number has barely changed since 2000. Additionally, for the first time, the report includes estimates of cases of sexual violence experienced outside couples. 263 million women They would have been victims of an attack of this kind 15 years ago.

Data, according to the authors themselves, can We underestimate Despite the reality, abuse often goes unreported or recorded. Victoria A. explains: Ferrer Pérez, Professor of Social and Gender Psychology at the University of the Balearic Islands, in statements to Scientific Media Center.

Thus, the report indicates that 30.4% of women aged 15 years and over have been victims of physical or sexual violence within or outside their partners at least once in their lives. Regarding sexual violence committed by someone other than a partner, 8.2% of women aged 15 years and over had been subjected to an attack of this type on at least one occasion.

“Although the prevalence of some of these forms of violence (such as sexual violence) may appear low, this does not preclude their presence.” Very important consequences “In women’s lives,” says Ferrer Pérez, who is also responsible for the Gender Studies Research Group. “In addition, the true prevalence is much higher than the reported prevalence.”

“The solidity of this report depends on the improvement in the availability of information, the increased quality of surveys and the methodological advances achieved in recent years,” comments Silvia Opelos Landa, professor at the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Burgos.

“Funding prevention and care It decreased between 2018 and 2025“In the context of growing emergencies and inequalities that increase the risks to women and girls,” laments Opelus Landa. “Impacts are disproportionate in regions experiencing socio-economic fragility, conflict or vulnerability to climate change, such as Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.”

“Every day, millions of women are victims of violence from their partners and/or sexual violence by people who are not their partners. Such violence has an immediate and long-term impact on the physical and mental health of women, girls, boys, families and communities,” denounces Pilar Matud Aznar, Doctor of Psychology and Information Sciences from the University of La Laguna.

“Violence against women is a major public health problem, and according to WHO and its UN partners, violence against women remains one of the most persistent and least addressed human rights crises in the world, with very little progress achieved in two decades.” Despite this”Only 0.2% of global development aid “It went to programs focused on preventing violence against women and funding decreased further in 2025.”