“For too long, violence against women was regarded as a private problem that should and could not be discussed in public, and women who were abused by their partners or by strangers were expected to suffer in silence,” said FRA Director Morten Kjaerum. “This is changing, thanks to the many developments in European society and in EU legislation and policy over the last few decades; but there is still a long way to go.”

FRA has been awarded the prize this year for its efforts in fighting violence against women, notably for its work on the world’s biggest-ever survey on violence against women. The survey revealed the extent of abuse suffered by women at home, work, in public and online across the EU.

The award ceremony took place on 14 October in Madrid in the presence of high-ranking representatives of the Spanish government.

The Observatory is a government institution headed by the Spanish General Council of the Judiciary made up of representatives from the Spanish ministries of the interior, justice, equality, the State General Prosecutor, Spain’s general law council as well as the Spanish regions. This is the 10th time the prize has been awarded.

FRA is sharing this year’s award with Thelma Aldana, the Attorney General of Guatemala, in recognition of her efforts to create an observatory on sexual violence and femicide in her country.

For further information please contact: media@fra.europa.eu / Tel.: +43 1 580 30 642

Notes to editors: 

• The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is mandated to provide evidence-based advice to EU and national decision makers, thereby contributing to more informed and better targeted debates and policies on fundamental rights.