Women continue to be under-represented in EU countries at all levels of political decision-making as well as in political parties. The origins of this situation are complex, but one reason stands out: violence against women active in politics discourages many women from entering the political arena. Women politicians are exposed to two severe and intersecting forms of violence: political violence and gender-based violence. Violence against women in politics takes multiple forms, from physical attacks to psychological and symbolic abuse, including sexual and sexist comments, online hate speech and sexual harassment, etc.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Violence against women active in politics in the EU: A serious obstacle to political participation

Precise figures about the numbers of illegal firearms in the European Union (EU) are lacking, but several indicators point to their widespread availability and accessibility. According to the Small Arms Survey, over half of the estimated total number of firearms held by civilians in the EU in 2017 were unlicensed. While most of these citizens had no criminal intentions, their illicit firearms could be used for self-harm or domestic violence, or end up in the hands of criminals or terrorists. Firearms seizures suggest that the EU illicit firearms market is made up mostly of shotguns, pistols and rifles, with converted or convertible weapons also frequently appearing. Illicit firearms trafficking is driven by criminal demand, with organised crime groups that engage in firearms trafficking also involved in other forms of criminality.

EPRS policy podcast - Understanding EU policy on firearms trafficking

Brieduma trūkuma dēļ bērni ir īpaši neaizsargāti pret vardarbību. Tāpēc ir svarīgi viņus aizsargāt visos apstākļos un situācijās. Lūk, dažas no ES īstenotajām darbībām

Šoreiz pastāstīsim, ko Eiropa dara no vardarbības cietušu bērnu labā

The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.&nbsp;

MEPs have voted during May 2023 plenary to approve the European Union’s accession to the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, concluding Parliament’s role in the process. Six years after the EU signed the Istanbul Convention - it has still not been ratified because of the refusal of a few member states, despite&nbsp;Parliament’s multiple calls to this end.

However, the EU&nbsp;Court of Justice’s opinion of 6 October 2021&nbsp;confirmed that the European Union can ratify the Istanbul Convention without having the agreement of all member states. The Court found that the appropriate scope for the EU’s accession is asylum, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and obligations of the EU institutions and public administration.

The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention does not exempt member states from ratifying it themselves, MEPs have repeatedly said, urging the remaining six countries - Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia - to ratify the Convention without delay, so that it can protect women to the full extent of the Convention’s intended scope

Violence against women

An EU Fundamental Rights Agency survey found that one third of women in the EU have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15. That means 62 million women.

 
Violence against women can be addressed through a fundamental rights lens. It is a violation of human dignity and, in its worst form, it violates the right to life. It is also an extreme expression of inequality on the grounds of sex.

Violence against women - 8th Parliamentary term

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.

The European Parliament first sounded the alarm about the problem of violence against women in a resolution of 11 June 1986. Since then, Parliament has played a particularly important role in the field, including through the work of its Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). As of October 2020, it has been signed by all EU Member States, and ratified by 21.

Violence against women (2019-2020)

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

After the deal reached between the Parliament and the Council, MEPs debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on the first EU rules on combating violence against women and domestic violence. The new directive will prohibit forced marriage and female genital mutilation and have specific rules on cybercrimes, such as cyber-flashing and cyber-stalking. Victims will have improved access to justice and to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive services, while the legislation will include provisions to prevent rape. MEPs debate.

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Violence against women

Violence against women - 8th Parliamentary term

Violence against women (2019-2020)

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EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence: MEPs debate

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EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

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EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence

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