An estimated 7.2% of Filipino women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual abuse from a husband or male intimate partner at least once in their lifetime, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study, titled “Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates,” also found that 3.1% of women in the same age group faced partner-inflicted abuse within the past year.
Released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on Nov. 25, the report underscores that intimate partner violence remains the most prevalent form of abuse globally. WHO described the issue as a “human rights violation and public health problem” with serious long-term impacts on women, families, and communities.
Violence Starts Early and Extends Beyond Relationships
The study highlighted that abuse often starts at a young age, with 23.3% of girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide having already experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner. Beyond intimate relationships, women also face non-partner sexual violence, which includes acts committed by acquaintances, relatives, authority figures, or strangers.
Globally, 25.8% of women aged 15 to 49, an equivalent of 682 million women, have suffered physical and/or sexual violence from a partner at least once in their lifetime. Around 13.7% experienced such abuse in the past year. Meanwhile, 8.2% of women worldwide have endured non-partner sexual violence at least once in their lives.
Underreporting Masks True Scale of Abuse
In the Philippines, 2.8% of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced non-partner sexual violence at least once, with 0.2% reporting such abuse in the past year. While these figures are lower than global averages, the WHO has cautioned that these numbers likely fail to capture the full extent of the problem.
The report emphasized that many victims choose not to disclose abuse due to stigma, fear of retaliation, and lack of institutional support. “The estimates demonstrate unequivocally that violence against women remains pervasive globally, requiring urgent action,” WHO said.
