Violence Against Women – Prevalence Estimates 2023 – Part 2 – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1194

Violence Against Women – Prevalence Estimates 2023 – Part 2 – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1194

Dear Colleagues! This is Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1194 for Pharma Veterans. Pharma Veterans Blogs are published by Asrar Qureshi on its dedicated site https://pharmaveterans.com. Please email to pharmaveterans2017@gmail.com  for publishing your contributions here.

Credit: Alex Green

Credit: Mikhail Nilov

Preamble

This 2-part blog post is based on WHO report titled ‘Violence against Women – Prevalence Estimates 2023. The report was released in November 2025. You may see the full report following this link. https://www.who.int/health-topics/violence-against-womentab=tab_1 

PART 2 – Violence Against Women: Implications, Gaps, and the Road Ahead

Violence against women (VAW) is not only a tragedy for individuals; it is a deep fault line running through societies, institutions, cultures, and the global development agenda. The 2023 WHO prevalence estimates reinforce this unsettling truth: violence against women remains deeply pervasive and stubbornly persistent across regions, cultures, and generations. 

Part 2 examines what these findings mean. What are the implications for policymakers, health systems, and society? Where are the knowledge and data gaps? And critically, what needs to change to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.2, which calls for eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls?

Beyond the Numbers: Why the Findings Matter

WHO’s 2023 estimates present a disturbing truth: progress is painfully slow. Over two decades, despite global declarations, better laws, and expanded awareness, the prevalence reduction is minimal. Why does violence remain so stubborn?

Violence Is Rooted in Deep Social Norms

The report reinforces what researchers and activists have long argued: violence against women is not random or episodic; it is structural, rooted in gender inequalities, power imbalances, rigid norms, and patriarchal systems.

Violence thrives in environments where:

• women’s autonomy is restricted

• economic dependence is high

• harmful beliefs about masculinity persist

• and discriminatory laws or weak enforcement prevail

Thus, policy responses must do more than treat injuries; they must shift social norms, transform institutions, and empower women economically and politically.

The Health Impact Is Immense

The health consequences are staggering:

• physical trauma

• chronic pain

• mental health disorders

• sexually transmitted infections including HIV

• pregnancy complications

• increased risk of maternal mortality

• and lasting harm to children who witness abuse

Violence undermines public health systems and creates multigenerational cycles of disadvantage. Recognizing the health impact is not a moral argument alone; it is an urgent health priority.

Why Accurate Data Matters – And What Still Needs Fixing

High-quality data is the backbone of effective policy. The WHO report notes significant improvements in data availability, yet major gaps remain.

Underreporting Is Universal and Persistent

Non-partner sexual violence, in particular, is severely underreported. Shame, stigma, fear of retaliation, and institutional failures silence many women.

Countries with higher reporting often appear worse, but they may actually have better systems that encourage disclosure.

Survey Designs Are Inconsistent

Global comparisons are complicated because countries differ in:

• definitions of violence

• question wording

• age groups surveyed

• severity scales

• recall periods

• and survey training quality

Even subtle differences can dramatically affect disclosure.

Data Gaps for Certain Groups

The report points out missing or weak data for:

• older women (surveys typically stop at 49 years)

• adolescent girls under 15

• women with disabilities

• migrant and refugee women

• LGBTQ+ women

• women in conflict zones

• and Indigenous populations

These omissions matter because these groups often face higher risk.

Lack of Surveys in Many Countries

Some countries have never conducted a national VAW survey. Others have outdated data (10+ years old). Without current information, policymakers cannot track progress or target interventions.

Psychological Violence Still Not Well Measured

While physical and sexual violence have clearer definitions, psychological abuse, coercive control, and economic abuse lack standard indicators. Yet these forms often precede or accompany physical violence.

Implications for Policy and Programming

The report is not merely a statistical exercise; it is a call to action.

Strengthen Health Sector Response

The health system is often the first point of contact for survivors. WHO recommends:

• survivor-centered clinical care

• confidential and empathic handling

• post-rape care and emergency contraception

• mental health support

• forensic documentation

• referral pathways across sectors

However, many countries lack trained providers, private examination spaces, or protocols consistent with WHO guidelines.

Expand Prevention Efforts

The report highlights evidence-based strategies that reduce violence:

• Transforming gender norms through community programs

• Economic empowerment plus gender training for couples.

• School-based relationship education for adolescents.

• Parenting programs to reduce childhood exposure to violence.

• Laws and policies that criminalize abuse and protect victims.

The most successful programs are multi-component, sustained over time, and deeply embedded in communities.

Address Violence in Fragile and Humanitarian Settings

Conflicts, climate disasters, and mass displacement heighten women’s vulnerability. Response programs in these settings require:

• safe shelters

• legal documentation support

• dedicated gender-based violence (GBV) services

• mobile health units

• and community protection systems

Leverage Technology Responsibly

Technology has dual effects:

• It can increase risk through cyberstalking, harassment, image-based abuse.

• But it also enables help through helplines, apps, digital reporting, and tele-health.

The report calls for more research into digital violence and the safety of online spaces.

What Governments Must Do

WHO’s recommendations emphasize that eliminating violence is not the responsibility of a single ministry. It requires a whole-of-government approach.

Legislate and Enforce

Strong laws are essential but insufficient without enforcement. Countries must:

• criminalize all forms of intimate partner and sexual violence

• outlaw marital rape

• protect survivors during court proceedings,

• ensure emergency protection orders

• strengthen judicial training

• and prosecute offenders consistently

Allocate Sustainable Funding

Many national action plans exist only on paper because they rely on external donors. Sustainable, domestic financing is necessary to scale program and train frontline responders.

Invest in Prevention, Not Just Response

Globally, most resources go to crisis response rather than prevention. The report stresses shifting funding upstream: to education, norm-change, youth engagement, and economic empowerment.

Improve Data Systems

Governments must:

• conduct regular, standardized VAW surveys

• ensure robust research on adolescent and older women

• integrate VAW indicators into national statistics systems

• and strengthen administrative reporting from police and hospitals

What Societies Must Do: Shifting Norms and Empowering Women

Violence persists where society tolerates or excuses it. A cultural transformation is essential.

Challenge Gender Norms and Stereotypes

Communities must confront traditional beliefs such as:

• “Family matters should stay private.”

• “Women provoke violence.”

• “Men must control the household.”

These beliefs underpin abuse. Changing them requires coordinated campaigns, role-model engagement, and open dialogue.

Engage Men and Boys

Ending violence is impossible without the active involvement of men. Programs that teach emotional regulation, respectful relationships, and gender equality show significant reductions in violence.

Support Women’s Economic Independence

Economic empowerment reduces vulnerability. But empowerment must go hand-in-hand with community dialogue—otherwise, increased independence can trigger backlash violence.

Involve Survivors in Solution-Design

Survivors know what works and what fails. Their voices are critical in shaping policies, services, and research priorities.

A Future Where Violence Is Prevented, Not Normalized

The WHO report ends with a strong message: ending violence is achievable. There are successful models in many countries. But scaling them requires political courage, investment, and societal commitment.

The path forward demands:

• better data

• survivor-centered services

• intersectional approaches

• stronger institutions

• transformed norms

• and long-term prevention strategies

Above all, it requires a shared belief that violence is not inevitable. It can be prevented.

Sum Up

The message is unequivocal:

Violence against women is widespread, severe, and preventable.

This report is not simply a documentation of suffering; it is a roadmap for governments, health systems, communities, and individuals to build a future where women and girls live free from fear. Eliminating violence is essential for achieving global development, protecting human rights, and ensuring healthier, more equitable societies.

Until prevention becomes as prioritized as response, and until gender equality becomes the norm rather than the exception, progress will remain slow. But with strong leadership and collective action, the next generation can inherit a safer world.

Concluded.

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