Gender-based violence continues to plague communities worldwide.
From female genital mutilation, child marriage and human trafficking to domestic violence and homicide, women and girls face continued struggles.
It can be hard to understand the difficulties faced by others from the comfort of our homes. That’s why we’ve put together 16 key facts to show just why we need to take action to end violence against women and girls.
Here are 16 shocking facts that reveal the horror.
1. One in three women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.
2. Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by a male partner.
3. 200 million women and girls have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting
4. Each year, 15 million girls are married before the age of 18. That is 28 girls every minute.
5. It is estimated that up to 10 million children are victims of child sexual exploitation.
6. School-related gender-based violence means that 1 in 4 girls say that they never feel comfortable using a school lavatory.
7. Between 80 and 100 million girls are ‘missing’ from the world’s population – victims of gender-based infanticide, femicide, malnutrition and neglect.
8. As many as 1 in 4 women experience physical and/or sexual violence during pregnancy.
9. As many as 150 million girls worldwide are raped or subject to sexual violence each year, usually by someone in their family circle.
10. Over 700 million women alive today were married as children (under the age of 18).
11. There are 5,000 so-called honor killings reported every year around the world. Experts estimate that the actual number of “honor” killings is much higher.
12. 30% of females globally have reported that their first sexual experience was forced.
14. Domestic violence is a global problem that affects 35% of women worldwide.
15. Globally, around 137 women are killed by their partner or a family member every day.
16. Women between the ages of 15 and 44 are at a higher risk of rape and domestic violence than cancer, car accidents, malaria or being injured in war.
Shocking isn’t it….?
And that’s why here at COBRA, we’re striving for empowerment. This snapshot of the struggles that women and girls across the globe face may be shocking to read, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Billions of women and girls continue to face violence every single day. These statistics provide a powerful reminder that women and girls need and DESERVE the skills to defend themselves. We need to do more. COBRA is committed to fighting for gender justice and the empowerment of women and children. We’re standing up for the rights of women and girls across the globe. To end sexual and physical violence, and to empower women and girls to create their own independent futures.
The struggles of women and girls must not be underestimated. Especially when in times of crisis such as war and famine, it’s females who are the most affected. We’ve seen the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women and girls facing abuse – trapped at home during lock-down – and things will only get worse.
Let’s empower ourselves, our mothers, our sisters and our daughter. Lets educate our boys and our men. Let’s be the positive change we want to see in the world. Because one woman is too many.
Alongside Child Safety, Self Defense and Anti-Abduction programs, COBRA also offers Women-Only Self Defense courses. If you are interested in empowering yourself or someone you know and love, please comment below or DM me today. I’d love to show you the little things you can do everyday to be safer and stronger in this sometimes very violent and frightening world, and what to do if you are ever the subject of a violent encounter. COBRA Instructors are passionate about empowering girls and women, and we’d love to share that with you.
*** We do not ignore that violence happens against men and boys as well, please know we are equally passionate about self defense and empowerment for ALL. However the data shows this is overwhelmingly a problem for women and girls and is, sadly, very much a gender based issue. As always, violence is indefensible and empowerment essential for all! ***
