UN Official: Civilian death rate rises 72% in 2023

The number of civilians killed in armed conflicts around the world rose 72% last year, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday, expressing concern about the proportion of women and children among the victims.

Türk said at the opening of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council: “Data collected by my office showed that the number of civilians killed in armed conflicts in 2023 increased by 72%,” he said, adding that the data indicates that “the proportion of women killed in 2023 doubled, and the proportion of children tripled.”