Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Gloria Steinem, the journalist and women's rights campaigner known as a leading voice in the feminist movement, has died at age 92 in her New York City home, surrounded by loved ones, according to an Instagram announcement from her family.
In a 2016 speech at UN Headquarters, Steinem strongly linked violence against women to broader issues of peace, security, and democracy. She stated that violence toward females is the most important factor in determining whether a country experiences internal violence or military conflict with others.
She identified multiple forms of violence against women, including sexual violence in conflict, trafficking, female genital mutilation, and domestic abuse. Steinem also highlighted cultural preferences for sons over daughters and the long-term societal consequences of such disparities.
Describing violence against women, Steinem said, “This is not a women’s issue… This is a world’s issue.” UN Women statistics estimate nearly one in three women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lives.
Steinem co-founded Ms. magazine and was a prominent voice during the 1960s and 1970s in the United States, bringing attention to issues such as reproductive rights, discrimination, political representation, and violence against women.
Her legacy underscores that the treatment of women is a revealing measure of a society’s democracy and peace. Ending violence against women and girls remains fundamental to achieving gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals.