“Unfortunately for women, the home continues to be the most dangerous place for them in terms of risk of homicide, “ marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the 2025 femicide report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women confirms that femicide continues to take the lives of tens of thousands of women and girls worldwide, with no sign of real progress.
Last year, 83,000 women and girls were killed intentionally. Of them, 60 per cent – 50,000 women and girls – were killed at the hands of intimate partners or family members. This means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes – an average of 137 every day. In contrast, just 11 per cent of male homicides were perpetrated by intimate partners or family members.
“Femicides don’t happen in isolation. They often sit on a continuum of violence that can start with controlling behavior, threats, and harassment – including online,” said Sarah Hendriks, Director of UN Women’s Policy Division.
Women and girls are subjected to this extreme form of violence in every region in the world, notes the 2025 femicide report. It is estimated that the highest rate of femicide by an intimate partner/family member was in Africa (3 per 100,000 women and girls), followed by the Americas (1.5), Oceania (1.4), Asia (0.7) and Europe (0.5).
Though femicides are also committed outside of the home, the amount of data remains limited. To help close these gaps, UN Women and UNODC are working closely with countries on the implementation of the 2022 statistical framework to enhance the identification, recording, and classification of gender-related killings of women and girls. Improving data availability will be vital to accurately assess the magnitude and consequences of these femicides, to support effective responses, and seek justice.
Hybrid press Conference by Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the General Assembly, on issues including the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons and International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
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The President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, announced the launch of the formal selection and appointment process for the next Secretary-General, and said “the world is looking to the next SG to provide strong, dedicated and effective leadership in delivering on the three pillars of the United Nations; peace and security, human rights and development, and in making the United Nations fit for the future.”
Baerbock told journalists in New York that the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, and she, as president of the General Assembly, had signed the joint letter which formally initiates the process and said, “the selection of the next Secretary-General comes at a pivotal moment for our United Nations.”
She said, “our choice will send a powerful message about who we are as United Nations, and whether we truly serve all the people of the world, of which everywhere in the world half are women and girls.”
The GA President noted that the joint letter “reflects improvements to the process and the latest resolution on revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, including a call to member states to strongly consider nominating women as candidates for the position of Secretary-General, the importance of regional diversity, transparent campaign disclosures and provisions on the withdrawal of candidates.”
She said, “I am convinced that the decision about the future leadership of this organisation is also about credibility.”
Baerbock said, “as President of the General Assembly, I will therefore ensure that the process reflects the principles of the United Nations Charter and the very best of our shared commitment and values.”
On 5 September 2025 the General Assembly adopted resolution 79/327 on the Revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, which sets out the process for the selection and appointment in line with Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations. The resolution builds on previous related resolutions, which introduced significant improvements to the selection and appointment process of the Secretary-General.
According to the resolution, candidates are nominated by a Member State or groups of Member States and must provide a vision statement, curriculum vitae and campaign financing disclosures.
The President of the General Assembly then convenes webcast interactive dialogues with all candidates and engages closely, in a transparent and inclusive manner, with Member States.
Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said, “those responsible for inflicting suffering in Libya are mistaken if they believe they are still outside the reach of justice.”
Addressing the Security Council Nazhat Shameem Khan said, “Through our collective work, there is a new momentum towards justice in Libya, and we now look towards the first trial to be held at the Court in this situation. Based on the progress we now see, I firmly believe there is an opportunity for us to show a collective success based on the partnership between Libya, this Council and the ICC.”
She also said, “Through the arrest of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri by German authorities on 16 July, on the basis of a warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC, we see a clear example of the momentum we are building. The Office of the Prosecutor alleges that Mr. El Hishri is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Mitiga Prison from February 2015 to at least early 2020.”
She continued, “Through the imminent transfer of Mr. El Hishri to the ICC, based on the mandate provided by this Council, and through the first pre-trial and subsequently trial proceedings before the Court in the situation in Libya, we send a clear message: those responsible for inflicting suffering in Libya are mistaken if they believe they are still outside the reach of justice. ”
She added, “Our Office also remains clearly focused on securing the arrest and transfer of Mr. Osama Elmasry Njeem for trial at the ICC for the war crimes and crimes against humanity we allege he has committed in Mitiga prison. These alleged crimes also include murder, torture, rape and sexual violence. We have received reports in recent weeks of his possible arrest in Libya and are seeking confirmation of this from the Office of the Attorney General.”
She also said, “And we are also continuing steps, together with our Registry colleagues, to ensure the effective tracking and arrest of Mr. Saif Suleiman Sneidel, in relation to whom Pre-Trial Chamber I unsealed an ICC arrest warrant on 8 August.”
Over 80,000 women and girls were killed intentionally last year according to a new report on femicide by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Over half of those femicides occurred at the hands of intimate partners or family members. That means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign targets digital violence and calls on governments to implement laws that end impunity, technology companies to ensure the safety of platforms, and donors to support organizations in eradicating violence.
Over 80,000 women and girls were killed intentionally last year according to a new report on femicide by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Over half of those femicides occurred at the hands of intimate partners or family members. That means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes. In contrast, only 11 per cent of male homicides were perpetrated by intimate partners or family members during the same year.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign targets digital violence and calls on governments to implement laws that end impunity, technology companies to ensure the safety of platforms, and donors to support organizations in eradicating violence.
A joint letter marking the formal start of the selection and appointment process for the next UN Secretary-General has been signed today (25 November) by the President of the Security Council, Michael Imran Kanu, and the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Annalena Baerbock. The letter serves to begin soliciting candidates for the position while also setting out the modalities for submitting and considering nominations.
A joint letter marking the formal start of the selection and appointment process for the next UN Secretary-General has been signed today (25 November) by the President of the Security Council, Michael Imran Kanu, and the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Annalena Baerbock. The letter serves to begin soliciting candidates for the position while also setting out the modalities for submitting and considering nominations.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Violence Against Women
– Palestinian Solidarity
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Lebanon/Israel
– Sudan
– Abyei
– Nigeria
– Ukraine
– Weapons of Mass Destruction
– Briefing Today
PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY
Earlier this morning, on behalf of the Secretary-General, Courtenay Rattray, the Chef de Cabinet, delivered remarks to the Special Meeting of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The Secretary-General, in the remarks, reaffirmed a fundamental truth: the Palestinian people have a right to dignity, a right to justice, and a right to self-determination.
He welcomed the recent ceasefire and the Security Council resolution on Gaza, urging all parties to fully implement these measures and to move toward the next phase. He called for unhindered humanitarian access and reminded Israel of its obligations under international law. He also appealed to Member States to meet the $4 billion Flash Appeal target for this humanitarian crisis.
Mr. Guterres also reiterated his call for an end to the unlawful occupation and for the irreversible progress toward a two-State solution, based on pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.
He concluded with a message of hope: Hope that children in Palestine and Israel will one day wake to a world without fear. Hope that families across the Middle East will live in dignity, and not in despair. And hope that two peoples — bound by history, by geography and humanity — will live side by side in peace.
SUDAN
In Sudan and the continuing devastating humanitarian situation in North Darfur State. Our partners are providing urgent services to people who escaped El Fasher, but needs far exceed resources.
The International Organization for Migration says that as of yesterday, more than 106,000 people have been displaced from El Fasher and surrounding villages since the city was taken over by the Rapid Support Forces a month ago.
Our Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, who, as you know, recently visited Tawila, stressed the need for unhindered access to civilians wherever they are. Tawila as you know is the town where many of those displaced are arriving, facing acute malnutrition and life-threatening illnesses.
Our humanitarian partners in the city report significant challenges to their operations, including funding shortfalls and insecurity along key access routes. Our humanitarian colleagues say that health facilities are overstretched, and mobile clinics are struggling to manage growing caseloads of injuries, acute malnutrition and respiratory infections. Our partners also warn that without urgent reinforcement of basic services and increased funding, the already dire conditions in Tawila could worsen even further. Despite these challenges, aid organizations continue to do whatever they can to deliver aid.
We are also deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in other parts of Darfur. In Central Darfur State, Médecins Sans Frontières said today that for the second time this year, the organization has been forced to reduce support to Zalingei Hospital to keep its own teams safe.
This comes after a Ministry of Health worker was fatally shot outside the facility a week ago, with four others injured.
Hostilities are continuing to imperil civilians in the Kordofan region and forcing families from their homes. IOM reports that more than 600 people were displaced from two villages in South Kordofan State, on Saturday.
We call again for the protection of civilians across Sudan, as well as safe and unimpeded access to deliver life-saving assistance, also urging donors to scale up funding to meet the growing needs across Darfur, Kordofan, and other parts of Sudan that need help.
UKRAINE
In Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that large scale attacks continued in the capital and across multiple regions, killing and injuring dozens of civilians.
Between yesterday and this morning, in Kyiv, a large-scale attack killed at least seven civilians and injured 20 others. Residential buildings, a pre-school and a playground were also damaged. The attacks further disrupted electricity, heating and water supplies, which as you know has been a challenge throughout Ukraine.
Strikes also impacted the regions of Chernihiv, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kherson, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia.
Critical infrastructure sustained extensive damage. Authorities reported that parts of Kharkiv were left without electricity and water. More than 50,000 people in the Kyiv and Chernihiv Region faced emergency outages.
Nationwide, more than 100,000 consumers remain without electricity following the latest wave of strikes. Rolling outages continue, further complicating preparations for the onset of winter.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-11-25
Vaccine alliance Gavi and children’s agency UNICEF have struck a new pricing deal that will sharply cut the cost of a key malaria vaccine and make it possible to protect nearly seven million additional children by 2030, the agencies announced on Sunday.
Under the agreement, the price of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine will fall to $2.99 per dose within a year – a reduction expected to save up to $90 million. Those savings should allow countries to secure more than 30 million extra doses over the next five years.
Vaccine alliance Gavi and children’s agency UNICEF have struck a new pricing deal that will sharply cut the cost of a key malaria vaccine and make it possible to protect nearly seven million additional children by 2030, the agencies announced on Sunday.
Under the agreement, the price of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine will fall to $2.99 per dose within a year – a reduction expected to save up to $90 million. Those savings should allow countries to secure more than 30 million extra doses over the next five years.
