Violence against women in the EU: State of play

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Series Details PE 739.208
Publication Date November 2022
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Summary:

Violence against women is a violation of human rights and a form of gender-based discrimination. Rooted in inequalities between men and women, it takes many forms. Estimates of the scale of the problem are alarming. Such violence has a major impact on victims and imposes a significant cost burden on society. The instruments put in place by the United Nations and Council of Europe, including the latter's Istanbul Convention, to which the European Union (EU) plans to accede, are benchmarks in efforts to combat violence against women.

The EU is tackling the problem in various ways. As yet, it has no binding instrument designed specifically to protect women from violence. However, in March 2022, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Although there are similarities between national policies to combat violence against women, the Member States have adopted different approaches. Parliament's efforts have focused on strengthening EU policy in the area.

Parliament has repeatedly called for a European Union strategy to counter violence against women, including a legally binding instrument. Stakeholders have highlighted the need for a comprehensive EU political framework on eliminating violence against women and issued recommendations on the Commission's proposed directive. They have also expressed a range of concerns, including regarding the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the war on Ukraine and the related need to expand and adapt support for victims.

Further information:

This is a further update to a Briefing originally published in February 2014. The latest version can be found onĀ Source Link, while previous versions can be found underĀ Related Links.

Source Link https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)739208
Alternative sources
  • https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2022/739208/EPRS_BRI(2022)739208_EN.pdf
Related Links
EPRS: Briefing, February 2014: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=LDM_BRI(2014)130528
EPRS: Briefing, November 2015: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2015)572786
EPRS: Briefing, June 2016: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2016)583799
EPRS: Briefing, November 2016: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2016)593555
EPRS: Briefing, November 2017: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2017)614583
EPRS: Briefing, September 2019: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)630296
EPRS: Briefing, November 2019: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)644190
EPRS: Briefing, November 2020: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)659333
EPRS: Briefing, November 2021: Violence against women in the EU: State of play https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2021)698809

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