Female Violence: In South Africa and Around the World
10 Nov 2026
Violence against women is one of the most common human rights issues globally, but it looks different in every country. In South Africa especially, the numbers are stark. The country has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence globally. Police statistics and research groups regularly report that a woman is killed every few hours by an intimate partner, and rates of reported rape and domestic assault are significantly higher than the global average. Many South Africans point to a mix of factors: high overall violent crime, economic stress, alcohol abuse, and a justice system where many cases go unreported or unprosecuted. The issue is highly visible there with frequent national protests and campaigns like #AmINext.
Globally, the picture is broader but just as serious. According to the WHO, about 1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, mostly by an intimate partner.
The patterns change by region:
- In South Asia and the Middle East, violence is often tied to early marriage, dowry disputes, and limited legal protection.
- In Latin America, femicide - the killing of women because they are women - has led to strict new laws in countries like Mexico and Brazil.
- In Europe and North America, domestic violence and sexual assault remain the most reported forms, with about 1 in 4 women reporting intimate partner violence.
- In conflict zones worldwide, sexual violence is often used as a weapon of war
What makes South Africa stand out is not that the violence is unique, but that its rate is exceptionally high compared to the global average, and the public conversation around it is very loud and active. The global trend, both in South Africa and elsewhere, is a push for better reporting systems, faster courts, and more support shelters - because data consistently shows most cases still never get reported.
By Kapindi Mukupa - Zambia