Global study of violence against women paints 'horrifying picture': WHO

Globally, 31 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 - that's about 850 million women - have experienced physical or sexual violence.

A woman holds a placard with a symbol of feminism during the feminist's Women March which is dedicated to International Women's Day in downtown Kiev. Source: Sipa USA Pavlo Gonchar / SOPA Images/Sipa

 

The findings coming from what the World Health Organisation says is the largest-ever such study of its kind, encompassing data from 158 countries.

 

The violence starts young: according to the report, one in four teenage girls in a relationship has been assaulted by a partner or husband before their 19th birthday.

 

And the true figures are likely to be much higher due to a known under-reporting of sexual abuse.

 

In many cultures it’s a heavily stigmatised crime.

 

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