At least 4,500 women were murdered due to gender-related reasons in 2022 in the region, according to statistics published here by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The figure shows that a feminicide is committed every two hours in the region, the ECLAC Gender Equality Observatory informed.

Of all 19 countries and territories that released the statistics, the highest rates were reported by Honduras (6.0 per 100,000 women), the Dominican Republic (2.9) and El Salvador and Uruguay (1.6).

Violence against women continues to increase in the region, despite increased public awareness, legislative advances, state response and progress in measurement,’ the ECLAC noted in its report.

The United Nations pointed out that this scourge can be prevented with comprehensive and forceful state responses.

Latin America and the Caribbean has the duty to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence.

It is unacceptable that more than 4,000 women and girls are murdered every year in our countries due to gender-related reasons,’ ECLAC Executive Secretary José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs noted.

The information was released on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is commemorated every November 25.