Five years after governments committed to ending gender-based violence, women across Africa continue to be killed by intimate partners, family members, and other perpetrators. According to UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in 2024, approximately 22,600 women and girls in Africa were killed by intimate partners or family members. This represents the highest rate of such killings, with three victims per 100,000 women and girls.
The crisis of femicide is not limited to one country or region in Africa. Jackline Ng'ang'a, a policy researcher with Akili Dada, emphasizes that femicide has become an African problem, requiring a collective response from governments and stakeholders. Ng'ang'a stresses that governments must take the safety of women seriously, particularly as violence continues in homes, workplaces, and public spaces.
In Kenya, data compiled by Africa Uncensored, Odipo Dev, and Africa Data Hub shows that 1,069 women were killed between 2016 and 2025, with 78% classified as femicide. In 2025 alone, 102 women were killed. The crisis became particularly visible in 2024, with 170 female murder cases documented, making it the deadliest year for women in the period examined.
The majority of victims were killed by someone known to them, with 87% of perpetrators being current or former intimate partners. This highlights the need for governments to address the root causes of violence against women and provide support to survivors. Ng'ang'a emphasizes that Kenya must account for its commitments under the Generation Equality framework, which includes providing government shelters for survivors.
The Generation Equality action period ends in 2026, but the violence that the commitments sought to address has not ended. South Africa continues to confront its own femicide crisis, with police statistics showing that 569 women were murdered between April and June 2026. During the same period, 1,052 women survived attempted murder, and 9,201 rape cases were recorded.
Preventing violence against women requires a multifaceted approach that starts within families and communities. Nokuzola Ndwandwe, a menstrual health rights activist from South Africa, emphasizes that parents must model positive behavior and challenge attitudes that normalize control and violence against women. Maureen Wagubi, CEO of Uganda's Institute for Social Transformation, adds that governments must put resources behind their commitments to address gender-based violence.
While many African countries have laws addressing gender-based violence, implementation remains a major challenge. Josephine Comfort Mukwendi of Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage emphasizes that preventing violence requires transforming social norms and power dynamics that enable violence. She also stresses the importance of involving men and boys in addressing the crisis, as they are not only part of the problem but also part of the solution.
Key points
- Governments must take the safety of women seriously and provide support to survivors of gender-based violence.
- Femicide has become an African problem, requiring a collective response from governments and stakeholders.
- Preventing violence against women requires a multifaceted approach that starts within families and communities.
