UN study on homicides sees pandemic and climate as factors
According to a UN study, the global number of deliberate killings rose to 458,000 people in the second year of the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 figure was the highest in two decades, as reported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Sufficient data is not yet available for 2022 and 2023.
According to UNDOC experts, the increase during the pandemic is linked to the negative economic impact of the pandemic. Gang crime and violence in the crisis-hit state of Myanmar also contributed to the increased number of victims. However, the trends varied from region to region. In Western Europe, the number of victims rose in 2020, mainly due to an increase in homicides in Germany, before falling again the following year. An increase was observed in some African countries in 2021.
According to the UNODC experts, climate change could contribute to more fatal violence in the future due to more frequent hot days and dwindling resources, especially in Africa and on the American continent. "We are already seeing this in Africa," said UNODC Chief Analyst Angela Me, referring to drought and water-related violence in West Africa.
The UN statistics also include victims of terrorism and unlawful state violence. Victims of armed conflict are not included. In 2021, almost four times as many people died as a result of deliberate killings than from conflicts. According to UNDOC, the risk of falling victim to a homicide is highest on the American continent at 15 per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Africa with a factor of 12.7. In Europe, the figure is only 2.2.
In 2021, a total of 81% of those killed were male. In regions with relatively low crime rates, such as Europe, the proportion of female victims is higher because relationship crimes and domestic violence play a relatively greater role. In 2021, only seven European countries worldwide reported more female than male victims: Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Latvia, Norway and Iceland.
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- Despite the lack of data for 2022 and 2023, the UNODC suggests that climate change, particularly in Africa and the Americas, could lead to an increase in fatal violence due to more frequent hot days and dwindling resources.
- The UN study also included victims of terrorism and unlawful state violence, but deliberate killings remained the highest cause of death in 2021, with the American continent having the highest risk factor at 15 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- During the pandemic, homicides in Germany led to a significant rise in the number of victims in Western Europe, but the figure dropped again in 2021. Conversely, some African countries reported an increase in homicides in 2021.
- The UN study on homicides highlighted the global impact of the pandemic on crime rates, with certain socio-economic and climate factors potentially contributing to the increase in deliberate killings across different regions.
Source: www.ntv.de
