SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) | NITI Aayog
The WHO “Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2023” report provides a stark assessment of the global crisis of violence. Globally, 30.4% of women aged 15 years and older (affecting 840 million women) have experienced either intimate partner violence (IPV), non-partner sexual violence (NPSV), or both in their lifetime. Lifetime prevalence for IPV alone stands at 25.8% (682 million women).
Regional and Age Gaps:
Southern Asia is one of the highest prevalence regions, registering a 31.2% lifetime IPV prevalence. Critically, the region faces one of the highest recent rates, with 20.5% of women experiencing IPV in the past 12 months.
India has a higher lifetime prevalence of IPV (29.9%) compared to the global average (25.8% lifetime prevalence for women aged 15–49 years globally).
The past-12-months prevalence of IPV in India (22.4%) is significantly higher than the global average (13.7% for women aged 15–49 years).
NPSV and Older Women: Lifetime Non-Partner Sexual Violence (NPSV) affects 8.2% of women globally, with prevalence highest among women aged 20–24 years.
NPSV prevalence in India is lower than the global average
Adolescent Risk: Adolescent girls aged 15–19 years are at high risk, with 23.3% experiencing lifetime IPV.
Challenges and Funding Deficit: Key challenges persist due to underreporting (driven by stigma and fear) and variations in survey methodologies. The report highlights the global systemic failure in funding, with Official Development Assistance (ODA) for violence prevention accounting for only 0.2% of overall aid.
The WHO findings make clear that India must strengthen the implementation of its core legal protections—the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005), the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 enacted after the Nirbhaya case, and the POCSO Act—while expanding survivor-centred services such as One Stop Centres, health-sector medico-legal care, and timely police response. With recent IPV prevalence at 22.4%, progress toward SDG Target 5.2 depends on improving district-level protection systems, ensuring consistent enforcement of criminal provisions, and scaling prevention efforts through Mission Shakti, adolescent safety initiatives, and gender-norm transformation across communities and schools..
What is the distinction between Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Non-Partner Sexual Violence (NPSV)?→ Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) includes physical and/or sexual violence, as well as stalking, inflicted by a current or former spouse, partner, or date. Non-Partner Sexual Violence (NPSV) refers to sexual violence perpetrated by someone other than an intimate partner, such as a family member, acquaintance, or stranger. Tracking both is vital because IPV often requires intervention by health/social welfare systems, while NPSV often requires a strong criminal justice response.
Follow the full report here: Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2023