Gender Inequality and Violence Against Women

Violence against women and gender inequality remain among the deepening social problems that remain unresolved on a global scale. According to 2025 data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and various United Nations bodies, approximately one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner during their lifetime, a rate that has not significantly decreased since the 2000s. As of 2023, 840 million women have experienced such violence; in the last 12 months alone, approximately 316 million women have encountered physical or sexual violence. This situation confirms that violence against women is still a "crisis that needs to be prevented" in a global context.

Throughout 2025, different dimensions of this chronic problem have emerged and intensified. While governments and civil society organizations in many countries are working on legislative and policy reforms to prevent violence against women, the reality on the ground remains negative. For example, in France, a comprehensive law to combat violence against women and children was prepared in November 2025; This law aims to strengthen the system by including reforms in law enforcement, the justice system, and education. However, the implementation of legal reforms, the provision of comprehensive support, and the protection of victims remain unresolved in many countries.

Violence against women is not limited to physical attacks; digital violence is also rapidly increasing. New reports indicate that a large number of women journalists, activists, and human rights defenders are subjected to online harassment and attacks, and these attacks extend to physical assaults in real life. This form of digital harassment is a significant threat to women's freedom of expression and public participation in society.

International campaigns underway in the last quarter of 2025, such as the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence," aim to raise awareness globally and encourage countries to develop more effective policies. These campaigns are supported by the WHO, UN Women, and other partner organizations, and data provides comprehensive strategies indicating that violence is preventable. However, reports highlight that estimates are still high and policies are inadequately implemented.

Social and economic inequalities for women continue to deepen in this context. According to United Nations reports, the pace of achieving global gender equality is far behind the set 2030 goals; gender gaps persist, with significant inequalities in areas such as education, workforce participation, leadership, and economic opportunities. For example, women's access to management positions is still lower than that of men, a situation that deepens gender injustices in the long term.

While the prevalence of violence against women varies from country to country in different parts of the world, it is significant on every continent. Women face severe violence and discrimination, particularly in the least developed countries and crisis regions where human rights violations are more common. Factors such as war, migration, and economic crises stand out as social dynamics that increase violence against women.

While efforts to defend women's rights and raise awareness are strengthening in some countries, societal norms, legal loopholes, and inadequate services still pose significant obstacles. Therefore, international organizations, governments, and civil society emphasize the need to allocate higher budgets to develop comprehensive health, legal aid, housing, and rehabilitation programs.

In summary, as of the end of 2025, violence against women and gender inequality will still remain a global social problem. Although statistical indicators have shown small improvements over the years, millions of women are still exposed to physical, sexual, digital, and economic forms of violence. While efforts by states and international actors are increasing, shortcomings in implementation and the dependence of priorities on policy changes are among the key factors that make solving the problem difficult.

https://www.who.int/news/item/19-11-2025-lifetime-toll--840-million-women-faced-partner-or-sexual-violence

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/05/gender-equality-in-a-changing-world_5a0af5ef/full-report/violence-against-women-remains-pervasive_aa396d5d.html

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/gender-snapshot/2025/GenderSnapshot2025.pdf

https://www.who.int/campaigns/16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence/2025

https://www.unesco.org.tr/Home/AnnouncementDetail/6612

https://apnews.com/article/66c38bb80b79d64be18b477f209c2db0

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/nov/27/women-in-prison-rising-global-crisis-sexual-violence-forced-labour

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/11/25/french-mps-introduce-comprehensive-bill-to-tackle-violence-against-women-and-children_6747803_7.html