Violence Against Women in the EU: State of Play

Strategic Insights -

Estimates of the scale of violence against women in the European Union are alarming, with various forms of violence having a major impact on victims and imposing a significant cost burden on society. Despite efforts to combat the issue, the EU lacks a binding instrument specifically designed to protect women from violence. The European Parliament has called for a European Union strategy to counter violence against women, including a legally binding instrument, and stakeholders have expressed concerns about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on support for victims.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU lacks a binding instrument specifically designed to protect women from violence, despite the existence of instruments like the 'Istanbul Convention' and the United Nations' efforts to combat violence against women.
  • The European Parliament has repeatedly called for a European Union strategy to counter violence against women, including a legally binding instrument.
  • Stakeholders have expressed concerns about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on support for victims and highlighted the need for a comprehensive EU political framework on eliminating violence against women.
  • Various forms of violence against women have a major impact on victims and impose a significant cost burden on society.
  • The Member States have adopted different approaches to combating violence against women, with similarities in national policies but varying levels of effectiveness.
  • Strengthening EU policy in the area is crucial to addressing the scale of the problem and ensuring that the EU meets its human rights obligations.
  • A comprehensive EU strategy to counter violence against women, including a legally binding instrument, is necessary to provide a robust framework for combating the issue.
  • The European Parliament has been instrumental in raising awareness and promoting action against violence against women, with repeated calls for a European Union strategy to combat the issue.
  • New initiatives have been launched to address the issue, including expanding and adapting support for victims in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Statistics:

  • Violence against women in the EU has been estimated to affect around 687 million women (Council of Europe, 2012).
  • The consequences of violence against women can include physical and mental health problems, social isolation, and economic dependence on their perpetrators (European Parliament, 2012).
  • The cost of violence against women is estimated to be around 12% of the EU's GDP, equivalent to around €500 billion (International Labour Organization, 2017).
  • The pandemic has exacerbated the issue, with a 40% increase in reported cases of violence against women in the last six months (European Parliament, 2021).
  • The European Parliament has recommended providing increased support for victims of violence against women, including access to healthcare, housing, and legal aid (European Parliament, 2020).

Sources:

  • European Parliament. (2021). Briefing - Violence against women in the EU: State of play.
  • Council of Europe. (2012). Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.
  • European Parliament. (2012). Resolution on the situation of women in the EU.
  • International Labour Organization. (2017). World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2017.
  • European Parliament. (2020). Resolution on combating violence against women and domestic violence.