Missing Girl Found in the Woods
Perla Alison, a young girl from the Santa Martha Acatitla neighborhood, vanished after leaving home to buy candy. A nationwide Amber Alert followed, but days later, her body was found in an abandoned building near the Constitución de 1917 metro station. A neighbor alerted police after noticing a foul smell.
Authorities confirmed signs of violence and launched a femicide investigation. Early evidence suggests the girl may have been abused before her death, but autopsy results are pending. The case sparked outrage online, with feminist and civil groups demanding justice.
Erika Deyanira Morales, a 20-year-old from Nariño, Colombia, died by euthanasia after years of suffering from quadriplegia caused by a violent attack in 2021. At just 17, Erika was struck with a bottle in a bar restroom, resulting in spinal injuries that left her fully dependent on her family. Initially denied the procedure by her health provider, Erika’s case went viral, and approval was finally granted in February 2025. Her sister, Tatiana, led the campaign and confirmed her passing with heartfelt tributes online.
Despite online claims, authorities have not confirmed the identities of the alleged attackers
One woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by their intimate partner or family member
The latest report on femicides reveals that 60 per cent of all female homicides are committed by an intimate partner or a family member.
New York, 25 November 2024 – On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November, the report Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides by UN Women and UNODC reveals that femicide—the most extreme form of violence against women and girls—remains pervasive globally.
Globally, 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2023. 60 per cent of these homicides –51,100- were committed by an intimate partner or a family member. The data shows that 140 women and girls die every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative, which means one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes.
In 2023, Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide, followed by the Americas, and then by Oceania. In Europe and the Americas, most women killed in the domestic sphere (64 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively) were victims of intimate partners, while elsewhere, family members were the primary perpetrators.
“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable. We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, it is time for world leaders to UNiTE and act with urgency, recommit and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all”, highlighted UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous.
“The new femicide report highlights the urgent need for strong criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable, while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms,” said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC. “At the same time, we must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women. As this year’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign begins, we must act now to protect women’s lives.”
The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2025, coupled with the fast-approaching five-year deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, presents a critical opportunity to rally all stakeholders to take decisive and urgent action for women’s rights and gender equality. This includes ending impunity and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls.