Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, the European Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President issued the following statement:
"All forms of violence against women are despicable. They are a violation of human rights and undermine our core values.
Women across all corners of the world continue to endure unspeakable violence – physical, sexual, psychological and economic – offline and online. Women and girls also bear the brunt of both immediate violent and lasting effects of war and conflict, resulting disproportionality in economic hardship. The situation is especially dramatic in the context of humanitarian crises, where instances of conflict-related sexual violence and human trafficking often go unreported.
Following the EU's accession to the Istanbul Convention, the most ambitious and comprehensive standards to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence, this year we adopted the first ever EU law to effectively fight violence against women and domestic violence, which complements existing legislation in EU Member States. We now have additional tools to combat such violence, both offline and online, to ensure that women and girls can be safe and live without fear, to provide the targeted support services for victims, and accountability for perpetrators. We call on all Member States to put in place these robust measures swiftly.
Our commitment to end violence against women around the world is a key priority for the EU external action, not least in the EU's role as a major humanitarian donor. We reaffirm our steadfast dedication to the immediate eradication of violence against women and girls in collaboration with partner countries, civil society, women's rights groups, and human rights defenders."
Background
The EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 commits the European Union to prevent and combat gender-based violence. In May 2024, the European Union adopted the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence . The Directive aims to provide a comprehensive framework to effectively prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence across the EU. It does so by introducing definitions of certain criminal offences (cyberviolence offences, female genital mutilation and forced marriage), strengthening the protection and support of victims, facilitating their access to justice, enhancing prevention, data collection, coordination and cooperation.
In October 2023, the European Union acceded to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence , also known as the Istanbul Convention. It is the most far-reaching international legal instrument to set out binding obligations to prevent and combat violence against women and girls. In parallel, the Commission has already achieved most of the actions under its EU Strategy on victims' rights (2020-2025) . The objective of the strategy is to ensure that all victims in the EU can fully benefit from their rights under EU law. In July 2023, the Commission adopted the proposal for a Directive amending the 2012 Victims' Rights Directive , and to strengthen the rights of all victims of crime across the European Union.
Today, the Commission is also publishing a Flash Eurobarometer on Gender Stereotypes on Violence against Women. Across the EU, 92% of respondents consider unacceptable for a man to occasionally slap their wife or girlfriend. 82% of respondents find it also unacceptable for men to body gaze, ogle, catcall or whistle at women. 73% disagree that women often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape.
