Homicide represents the most extreme form of violence against women, a lethal act on a continuum of gender-based discrimination and abuse. As this research shows, gender-related killings of women and girls remain a grave problem across regions, in countries rich and poor. While the vast majority of homicide victims are men, killed by strangers, women are far more likely to die at the hands of someone they know. This booklet – part of the forthcoming Global Study on Homicide by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – is being released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2018 to raise awareness, increase understanding and inform action. It is also a call for Governments to help us shed further light on these challenges by collecting the needed data and reporting on all forms of gender-based violence. UNODC remains committed to supporting Member States to strengthen evidence-based policies and criminal justice responses that can prevent and end violence against women and gender-related killings.