[Editorial] Violence against women: preventing the preventable

840 million women and girls have experienced violence in their lifetime, according to WHO's latest prevalence estimates. In 2023, 11·4% of women experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner. The latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data provide insight into the health impacts of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence. Both reports reinforce violence against women (VAW) as a global public health crisis sparing no country. As we mark the UN Women Campaign 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, too many countries have seemingly forgotten that the sustainable development goal 5·2 aims to end violence against women and girls.