Gender-based violence: definition, facts and EU actions to stop it
Gender-based and domestic violence remain common in Europe, especially affecting women and girls. The EU has adopted rules to put an end to it.
Most EU countries have laws tackling violence against someone because of gender or sexual orientation, but the lack of common rules to address the issue helped to perpetuate the problem. That is why the European Parliament insisted on new EU legislation on has called for several actions against it.
What is gender-based violence?
Gender-based violence refers to any form of violence directed against an individual because of their gender. This violence can manifest in various forms, including physical (such as femicide), sexual (such as rape or sexual harassment), psychological, and economic.
Gender-based violence can occur in both public and private spheres. Domestic violence, for example, occurs within the family or between current or former spouses or partners. These types of violence are often perpetrated by close family members or intimate partners.
The terms "gender-based violence" and "violence against women" are often used interchangeably because most gender-based violence is perpetrated against women by men. This violence is linked to power imbalances between genders and is a complex issue influenced by social and cultural structures, norms, and values.
Female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate or manipulated material can be viewed as forms of sexual exploitation. Additionally, cybercrimes such as cyberstalking, cyber harassment, and online incitement to violence or hatred are also considered forms of gender-based violence.
EU statistics for gender based violence
The EU Gender-Based Violence Survey provides detailed statistics on gender-based violence with data collected from September 2020 to March 2024. It provides comprehensive insights into the experiences of women across the EU. Coordinated by Eurostat, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and the European Institute for Gender Equality, the survey involved interviews with 114,023 women aged 18-74.
The survey reveals that one in three women in the EU have faced gender-based violence since the age of 15. About 17% of women have experienced violence from an intimate partner.
1 in 3
The proportion of women in the EU who have faced gender-based violence
About 30% of women in the EU have experienced physical violence or threats and/or sexual violence over their lifetime. Some 13% of women have experienced physical violence or threats without sexual violence, and 17% have experienced sexual violence.
The EU countries where the highest rates of gender-based violence are reported, are Finland (where 57% of respondents say they have experienced gender-based violence and 37% of women say they have experienced sexual violence), Sweden (where 52% of respondents say they have experienced gender-based violence and 41% report sexual violence) and Hungary (where 49% of respondents say they have experienced gender-based violence, 17% report sexual violence, and 31% report physical violence).
The survey notes that comparisons between countries should be carried out cautiously as perceptions of what acts are wrong or harmful and people’s awareness and recognition of different types of violence may vary from one country to another.
Parliament actions to stop gender-based violence
EU legislation on combating violence against women
In April 2024 Parliament adopted the first ever EU rules on combating violence against women. The goal is to prevent gender-based violence and protect victims, especially women and victims of domestic violence. The directive calls for stronger laws against cyberviolence, better assistance for victims, steps to prevent rape and increase understanding of sexual consent.
The new rules also prohibit female genital mutilation and forced marriage and outline particular guidelines for offenses committed online.
The legislation also includes a longer list of aggravating circumstances for offenses that should carry more severe penalties, such as crimes against public figures, journalists, or human rights defenders.
The rules provide that the safety and well-being of victims should be prioritised, including by offering access to sheltered accommodation. Healthcare should be made accessible, including sexual and reproductive health services.
The new rules came into force in June 2024. EU countries have three years to implement them.
Right to abortion
In a resolution adopted in April 2024, MEPs urge the Council to add sexual and reproductive healthcare and the right to a safe and legal abortion to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights - a demand they have made several times.
The text urges EU countries to fully decriminalise abortion in line with the 2022 guidelines of the World Health Organization. MEPs call on the European Commission to ensure that organisations working against gender equality and women’s rights, including reproductive rights, do not receive EU funding.
Protecting victims of partner violence
An estimated 18% of women across the EU have experienced physical violence or threats or sexual violence by an intimate partner over the course of their lives, the EU’s 2024 Gender-based violence survey showed. About 32% of the women have experienced psychological violence.
The survey notes that because of the close ties between the victim and the perpetrator, it can be difficult for victims to disclose their experiences and seek assistance, including to report incidents to the police.
In October 2021, Parliament called for urgent measures to protect victims including in custody battles where violence is suspected. MEPs also called for EU countries to help victims achieve financial independence, enabling them to leave abusive and violent relationships.
EU accession to the Istanbul Convention
The Istanbul Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence is an international agreement that legally defines violence against women and establishes a comprehensive framework of legal and policy measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.
While all EU countries have signed the convention, some have not ratified it.
The European Parliament supported the accession of the EU to the convention and has repeatedly called on all EU countries to finalise the ratification process.
In May 2023, the Parliament gave its consent to the EU accession to the Convention. On 1 October 2023, the Istanbul Convention entered into force for the European Union.
Eliminating female genital mutilation
The European Parliament has adopted laws and resolutions to help eliminate female genital mutilation worldwide. Although the practice is illegal in the EU and some member states prosecute even when it is performed outside the country, it is estimated that about 600,000 women living in Europe have been subjected to female genital mutilation and a further 180,000 girls are at high risk in 13 European countries alone.
In 2019, the Restorers, a group of five students from Kenya who developed an app helping girls deal with female genital mutilation, were shortlisted for Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
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