It is estimated that globally 35% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner at some point in their lives. Some national studies show that up to 70% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime (UN Women).

In Australia, domestic violence is the leading cause of death and injury in women under 45 years of age, with more than one woman murdered by her current or former partner every week (ABC).

Women and girls accounted for 71% of the over 40 million people estimated to be victims of some form of modern slavery in 2016, including 99% of those in the commercial sex industry and 84% of victims of forced marriages (CNN).

Around the world, deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth are needlessly high. The global maternal mortality (deaths due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth) ratio declined by 44% from 1990 to 2015. Still, over 800 women die each day from complications in pregnancy and childbirth (almost all - 99% - in developing regions) and for every woman who dies, approximately 20 others suffer serious injuries, infections or disabilities (UNICEF).

Adolescent girls are around one third less likely to experience Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) than 30 years ago and many countries have banned the practice. However due to social pressure FGM remains an underground practice and in the 29 countries where FGM is concentrated, there are an estimated 120 million girls and women alive today who have been cut (WHO).

There is widespread use of rape and sexual violence in conflict (The Guardian), including in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and against Rohingya women in Myanmar. Victims are most often from marginalised, destitute, and often displaced communities.

In Rakhine State, Myanmar, systematic killings and rape of several hundred Rohingya Muslims was carried out by the Burmese army (HRW).
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2016, there were 514 verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence and 2,593 cases of sexual violence were reported in conflict-affected provinces (UN).
In Iraq, since the rise of ISIS in 2014, civilians have been subjected to sexual violence on a horrific scale (UN).

There has been growing awareness of inequality, discrimination and harassment experienced by women. In some nations, legislation and policies entrench discrimination, there is a lack of protection from sexual and other violence, and women’s rights activists have been threatened or imprisoned.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2017 reported that the “global gender gap” - looking at health, education, politics and the workplace - has worsened (World Economic Forum).
Globally, women earn on average 60-75% of men’s wages (UN Women). Numerous countries have put equal pay policies in place, seeking to close the gap (UN Women).
Women currently hold 23% of government positions globally, however an increasing number of women are running for office and some countries are forming more gender-balance cabinets (including Canada, France and South Korea) (UN Women).

Progress of the World's Women (UN Women)

State of the World's Mothers (Save The Children)

To explore more information about particular needs facing children and women in regions around the world, see the Regional Fact Sheets on the Sisterhood Fight Club page.