On 25 November, the European Union’s statistical office, Eurostat, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) published a groundbreaking report on gender-based violence, based on a survey conducted between September 2020 and March 2024 in the 27 EU Member States.
This study was based on the testimonies of 114,023 women aged between 18 and 74, providing an unprecedented analysis of the extent and forms of violence experienced by women in the EU.
The results show that one woman in three (30.7%) in the EU has experienced physical violence, threats or sexual violence in her lifetime. One in five women suffers physical or sexual violence at the hands of a partner or household member. One in eight women has been the victim of sexual violence, including rape, perpetrated by someone other than an intimate partner. In the workplace, 30.8% of women say they have experienced sexual harassment, a figure that rises to 40% among young women.
The data also reveals a number of geographical disparities. In Finland, for example, 57.1% of women say they have been victims of violence, compared with just 11.9% in Bulgaria. These differences may be influenced by differences in culture, legislation and data collection methodologies.
The report also looks at the consequences of this violence for the victims. As well as the physical and psychological impact, many women report lasting negative effects, such as economic loss and social marginalisation. Reporting rates remain low: only one in eight women reported the violence to the police.
One in five consulted a doctor or a social service, but less than one in twenty contacted a help line.
Finally, victims with certain characteristics seem to be exposed to greater risks. Women with disabilities or from ethnic minorities report higher than average rates of violence.
This report is a first step before the publication in 2025 of a survey report for an in-depth analysis of the data, which will enable further exploration of these issues and guide policies to tackle gender-based violence.
To see the report, go to https://aeur.eu/f/em2 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)