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EU Gender-based Violence Survey

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Gender-based violence in the EU

You are not alone

115,000 women speak out

EU Gender-Based Violence Survey background with illustrated silhouettes of three women of different ages.

Violence every day, everywhere

Wives, daughters, sisters, friends, colleagues.

What do they all have in common?

Gender-based violence at home, at work, in public and online.

Physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence is all too common and largely invisible.

While women should be free, independent, empowered, safe, and loved , sadly, 1 in 3 women in the EU have experienced physical or sexual violence.

That’s 62 million women that have been slapped, hit, kicked, raped, or threatened with violence.

Women are still unsafe

A decade on

In 2014, FRA revealed the extent to which women across the EU experience violence every day and everywhere.

It was the first ever, and largest at the time, EU-wide survey on violence against women, drawing on face-to-face interviews with 42,000 women across the EU.

It found that 1 in 3 women had experienced physical or sexual violence.

While the exact numbers vary between countries, the overall picture is clear: this is not a rare or isolated phenomenon. It is part of everyday life for millions of women.

A decade later, we continue to witness the same shocking levels of violence, despite international, EU and national legal and policy initiatives, and grassroots initiatives like #MeToo.

Three women are depicted closely together, with their eyes closed and serene expressions, conveying a sense of introspection and tranquility.  The woman in the center is highlighted.

Home not so sweet home

Violence by intimate partners

Behind closed doors, at home in spaces meant to feel safe, women in relationships face multiple forms of violence.

For many women, violence is not a one-time event. It unfolds over months or years.

It may begin with emotional pressure or control - decisions made for her, isolation from friends or family, slurs, insults and harassment.

In addition, partners sometimes keep hold of the purse strings, creating financial dependence, curtailing liberty.

And when times get tough, during crises like the Covid-19 pandemic where women were often isolated at home, violent tendencies increase.

Later, such psychological and economic violence may continue and escalate to threats, physical assault, and sexual violence.

Because the abuser is someone known or once trusted, the violence carries a deep emotional weight. Victims often hesitate to speak out, not only because they fear retaliation, but because they fear they won’t be believed, or that they’ll lose everything if they leave.

Women who have experienced violence by any perpetrator, by type etc

Women who have experienced physical violence or threats and/or sexual violence by any perpetrator in their lifetime (%)

Home not so sweet home

Violence by intimate partners

Behind closed doors, at home in spaces meant to feel safe, women in relationships face multiple forms of violence.

For many women, violence is not a one-time event. It unfolds over months or years.

It may begin with emotional pressure or control - decisions made for her, isolation from friends or family, slurs, insults and harassment.

In addition, partners sometimes keep hold of the purse strings, creating financial dependence, curtailing liberty.

And when times get tough, during crises like the Covid-19 pandemic where women were often isolated at home, violent tendencies increase.

Later, such psychological and economic violence may continue and escalate to threats, physical assault, and sexual violence.

Because the abuser is someone known or once trusted, the violence carries a deep emotional weight. Victims often hesitate to speak out, not only because they fear retaliation, but because they fear they won’t be believed, or that they’ll lose everything if they leave.

map

In numbers

1 in 10
experienced physical violence
1 in 14
were raped
3 in 10
suffered psychological violence
1 in 12
were victims of economic violence

Not part of the job

Sexual harassment at work

Women at work are not free from violence.

They are often harassed by male co-workers, bosses / supervisors and by clients and customers.

Shockingly, nearly 1 in 3 of working women have been sexually harassed at work. And the younger you are the worse it gets, rising to over 4 in 10 for younger women.

Added to which, if job security is a concern, being on a fixed-term contract means your risk of falling prey to sexual harassment rises.

Worryingly, for many women it isn’t just a once-off event. For 1 in 5 women, it occurs time after time.

And while 8 in 10 women talk to someone close to them about sexual harassment at work, only half that number officially report it. This leaves many employers unaware of the extent of the problem and the urgent need to tackle and many women without support and access to justice.

This also has an economic impact on victims and the companies themselves, as employers that cannot guarantee a safe working environment will not benefit from the skills and talents of their workforce.

Title of figure

The invisible threats

The menace of stalking

In the shadows of daily life, a silent menace persists — stalking. Often dismissed or misunderstood, stalking is a deeply invasive crime that leaves victims, living in fear, constantly looking over their shoulders.

Almost 1 in 5 women in the EU have been stalked.

Whether online or in person, stalkers exploit technology, personal routines, and emotional vulnerabilities to exert control and instil terror.

What is worse, it is not just strangers but people they once loved or trusted. Partners account for 50% of GPS tracking/spying.

And 37% of intimate content shared without permission comes from partners.

Woman wearing a knitted beige hat and striped scarf stands in a dimly lit abandoned building with a shadowy figure in the background.

Stolen childhood

Violence against girls

Childhood should be a time of innocence, security and safety. A time to grow, learn, mature and have fun. Alas, young girls also fall prey to gender-based violence.

1 in 15 women have suffered from sexual violence as a child, mostly at the hands of someone they knew or trusted. 

Parents, who are meant to nurture and protect their children, often have a darker side. 1 in 3 women said that their parent was physically or psychologically violent against them as a child.

What makes matters worse, childhood violence is often an indication of further violence in later life. If it happened in childhood, then the cycle of violence often perpetuates.

Chances are if you suffered as a child, you are more likely to become a victim of sexual violence from partners, strangers or acquaintances in your adult life.

Fluffy beige teddy bear sitting on wooden floor covering its eyes with its paws against a light wood background.

Stolen childhood

Violence against girls

Childhood should be a time of innocence, security and safety. A time to grow, learn, mature and have fun. Alas, young girls also fall prey to gender-based violence.

1 in 15 women have suffered from sexual violence as a child, mostly at the hands of someone they knew or trusted. 

Parents, who are meant to nurture and protect their children, often have a darker side. 1 in 3 women said that their parent was physically or psychologically violent against them as a child.

What makes matters worse, childhood violence is often an indication of further violence in later life. If it happened in childhood, then the cycle of violence often perpetuates.

Chances are if you suffered as a child, you are more likely to become a victim of sexual violence from partners, strangers or acquaintances in your adult life.

Fluffy beige teddy bear sitting on wooden floor covering its eyes with its paws against a light wood background.

The physical and mental toll of violence

Understanding the impact

Violence against women scars women for life, not just physically but also mentally.

Battered and bruised, 1 in 8 have been left with physical injuries. These include cuts and bruises, broken bones, internal injuries, miscarriages and unplanned pregnancies.

Partners are the main culprits, leaving 1 in 15 women fearing for their life.

Such trauma comes at a real tangible cost. 1 in 3 of victims of partner violence felt unable to do housework or care for their children and 1 in 6 had to take time off their work or studies.

Sadness, depression and anxiety are also all too common, affecting 1 in 2 women.

Woman wearing a knitted purple beanie and beige jacket leaning against a graffiti-covered wall by a riverside path.

The physical and mental toll of violence

Understanding the impact

Violence against women scars women for life, not just physically but also mentally.

Battered and bruised, 1 in 8 have been left with physical injuries. These include cuts and bruises, broken bones, internal injuries, miscarriages and unplanned pregnancies.

Partners are the main culprits, leaving 1 in 15 women fearing for their life.

Such trauma comes at a real tangible cost. 1 in 3 of victims of partner violence felt unable to do housework or care for their children and 1 in 6 had to take time off their work or studies.

Sadness, depression and anxiety are also all too common, affecting 1 in 2 women.

Woman wearing a knitted purple beanie and beige jacket leaning against a graffiti-covered wall by a riverside path.

The invisible epidemic of violence

Understanding under-reporting

Official figures mask the true scale of violence.

Many women remain silent not because the violence wasn’t serious, but because speaking out can come at a cost. Fear of not being believed, social pressure, or the risk of retaliation all play a part.

Almost 1 in 3 never discuss what happened with anyone.

When it comes to domestic violence the picture is even bleaker. Only 1 in 2 talk about their experiences of physical violence compared to nearly 3 in 4 victims of non-partner violence.

Only 1 in 7 victims contact the police.

1 in 5 reach out to health or social services.

Putting an end to violence against women

The EU and Member States have taken steps to eradicate violence against women. These have included measures to prevent violence, and to better protect and support victims of violence.

Examples include agreeing to the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, as well as EU’s rules on gender-equality and victims’ rights.

However, as this survey results show concerted effort is still needed to ensure women can enjoy a life free from gender-based violence.

Solutions include:

    • Protect and meet the needs of all victims of violence
    • Address the impact of all forms of intimate partner violence
    • Target economic and psychological violence from partners
    • Improve the reporting of violence
    • Combat sexual harassment at work
    • Tackle online abuse, cyberharassment and cyberstalking
    • Stop childhood abuse
  • Next Steps

    A future without violence

    Change is possible