According to a recent study done in London, researches have discovered a shocking and tragic truth: one in three woman are victims of domestic abuse in their lifetime. Worldwide, there are females who are being taken advantage of both physically and sexually, and they are being hurt severely if not killed as a result. Often times the abusers are people they are well acquainted with such as a current or former partner, a spouse or even family member; the majority of the time it is against woman. The World Health Organization released the study last week, which showed even more terrifying facts. Worldwide, nearly 40 percent of all female killings were an act of domestic violence by an “intimate partner” showing that abuse by partners is among the most common types of violence that woman would experience in their lifetime.

WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan shares that this epidemic of domestic violence is a global health problem and it is plaguing our society. Out of all countries, their findings show that the country of Africa has the highest rates of domestic violence specifically against woman, and ranks along side the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In these three countries, 37 percent of all women are beaten or sexually abused by their partners at some point in time. The following highest countries were that of Europe and Asia at 25 percent then Latin and South American locations at 23 percent of all woman, followed not shortly after by North America at 20 percent.

The country of Canada is currently experiencing a devastating reality of domestic violent among woman. According to the research about 40 percent of all reported crimes in the country were due to current or former partners or spouses acting violently with woman. Country data for the year of 2010 shows that out of all female murders that year, almost 50 percent of the solved crimes were by the female’s partner. Sadly, what this research also reveals is that light is just barely being shed on this global tragedy. Much data reveals that the problem of domestic violence around the world is extremely underestimated because police records rely largely on crime reports of violence, and yet many women are unable even to report the abuse in the first place, or are to frightened to ever do so. In the country of Canada in particular, many woman of abuse are not only fearful of reporting the problem, but they are under no legal obligation to do so.

In Canada, where one of the anonymous studies as conducted, they discovered an extremely high commonness of abuse for these woman ho came into the fracture clinics for treatments. From their studies in various orthopedic fracture clinics throughout the county WHO found that one in three admitted to experiencing domestic abuse at least once in their life, one in six claimed it occurred within the past twelve months. Out of every fifty visiting the clinic, one would be linked directly to an act of domestic abuse. They report that some of the woman had injuries so severe that they were merely moments away from being victims of homicide. WHO shares the very real truth that domestic violence is permeating our society at all different economic statuses, culture groups, and ethnicities.

In the event that you or a loved one have been a victim of domestic violence, please do not hesitate in seeking an order of protection or a divorce from your abuser. Please contact a family lawyer close to you to further discuss these details and to determine a course of action that is fitting for your unique situation.