Violence against women in the EU: State of play

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 on Source Link, while previous versions can be found under Related Links.

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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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