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

Omdat ze zo jong zijn, worden kinderen gemakkelijker het slachtoffer van geweld. Daarom is het belangrijk om ze overal en in alle situaties te beschermen. Hier volgen een aantal acties die de EU onderneemt

Dit doet Europa voor kinderen die het slachtoffer zijn van geweld

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

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD and Evin INCIR, co-rapporteurs, Robert BIEDROŃ FEMM Chair and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, LIBE Chair on Violence against women

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD,  Evin INCIR rapporteurs  and other lead MEP's on Violence against women: update on the state of negotiations by the negotiators

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD and Evin INCIR, co-rapporteurs on combating violence against women and domestic violence

Press conference by Arba KOKALARI and Łukasz KOHUT, rapporteurs on the EU ratification of Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women

Press conference by Věra JOUROVA, EC Vice-President for Values and Transparency and Helena DALLI, Commissioner for Equality on combating violence against women and domestic violence

Press conference by Pina PICIERNO, Luisa REGIMENTI, Brando BENIFEI, Antonio TAJANI on International women’s day: stepping up the fight against intimate partner violence and feminicide

Toepassing door Spanje van internationale normen inzake de definitie van seksueel geweld in het licht van de recente zaak "La Manada"

Spain's application of international standards on the definition of sexual violence in light of the recent 'La Manada' case

De bestrijding van geweld tegen vrouwen en meisjes en de ratificatie van het Verdrag van Istanbul door de lidstaten van de EU (debat)

The fight against violence against women and girls and the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by EU Member States (debate)

Toetreding van de EU tot het Verdrag van de Raad van Europa inzake het voorkomen en bestrijden van geweld tegen vrouwen en huiselijk geweld (debat)

EU accession to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (debate)

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality / Global perspective: freedom from violence as empowerment pre-condition

FEMM

Recente gedeeltelijke decriminalisering van huiselijk geweld in Rusland (debat)

Recent partial decriminalisation of domestic violence in Russia (debate)

Toetreding van de EU tot het Verdrag van Istanbul inzake het voorkomen en bestrijden van geweld tegen vrouwen (debat)

EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women (debate)

Beëindiging van seksuele intimidatie en geweld jegens vrouwen in openbare ruimten (debat)

Ending sexual harassment and violence against women in public spaces (debate)

Vluchtelingennood, controle aan de buitengrenzen en de toekomst van Schengen - Naleving van het internationale beginsel van non-refoulement - Financiering van de vluchtelingenfaciliteit voor Turkije - Toegenomen rassenhaat en geweld jegens vluchtelingen en migranten in heel Europa (debat)

Refugee emergency, external borders control and future of Schengen - Respect for the international principle of non-refoulement - Financing refugee facility for Turkey - Increased racist hatred and violence against refugees and migrants across Europe (debate)

Uitbanning van geweld tegen vrouwen in de EU (debat)

Elimination of violence against women in the EU (debate)

Bestrijding van geweld tegen vrouwen (voortzetting van het debat)

Combating violence against women (continuation of debate)

Bestrijding van geweld tegen vrouwen (debat)

Combating violence against women (debate)

Escalatie van geweld tussen Israël en Palestina (debat)

Escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine (debate)

EP Plenary session - Session Commission statement - Rising anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric and violence: recent attacks in Thessaloniki

EP Plenary session - Council decision inviting Member States to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention

Press conference Chair on Violence against women

LIBE/FEMM - Trilogue on Domestic violence

Press conference on Violence against women: update on the state of negotiations by the negotiators.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - ' Orange your world ', UN campaign to end violence against women and girls. Orange flag flown outside the EP building in Brussels

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - ' Orange your world ', UN campaign to end violence against women and girls. Orange flag flown outside the EP building in Strasbourg.

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - International day for the elimination of violence against women

Online Press Briefing ' The Directive on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence  '

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Violence and discrimination in the world of sports after the FIFA Women’s World Cup

Trilogue on violence against women

Press conference on combating violence against women and domestic violence

LIBE/FEMM vote on combating violence against women and domestic violence

Press conference on the EU ratification of Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women

Event ' In Defense of Our Defenders - Violence Against Europe’s Police '

EP Plenary session - Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession

EP Plenary session - Voting session (part 2) incl. European Health data space and violence against women

The new rules aim to prevent rape and raise awareness on consent, while female genital mutilation and forced marriage are included as crimes under EU law. 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 prohibits forced marriage and female genital mutilation and have specific rules on cybercrimes, such as cyber-flashing and cyber-stalking. Victims improves access to justice and to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive services, while the legislation will include provisions to prevent rape.

Combatting violence against women and domestic violence: extracts from the debate (23.04) and from the vote (24.04)

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. Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Evin INCIR (S&D, SE) and Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Rapporteurs

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence: Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Evin INCIR (S&D, SE) and Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Rapporteurs

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.

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

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. Opening statements by by Evin INCIR (S&D, SE), Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Rapporteurs, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, ES), EMPL Committee, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Alexandra GEESE (Greens/EFA, DE), BUDG Committee, and by Manon AUBRY (The Left, FR), JURI Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

EP Plenary session - Combating violence against women and domestic violence: Opening statements by Evin INCIR (S&D, SE), Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Rapporteurs, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT, Helena DALLI, Alexandra GEESE, Manon AUBRY

During her visit to Malta, the President of the European Parliament visits a Residential Care Home managed by Fondazzjoni Sebh. This foundation provides residential services to children, female survivors of violence and their children, as well as a community service offering support to individuals and families.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Malta: Visit to a residential care home managed by Fondazzjoni Sebh in Hamrun

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE) and Evin INCIR (S&D, SE), Co-Rapporteurs, Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), Chair of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on Violence Against Women Directive. The legislation has the goal to enshrine minimum standards in EU law for criminalising certain forms of gender-based violence, improve access to justice, protection and support for victims, ensure coordination between relevant services, and prevent these types of crime. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Evin INCIR (S&D, SE), Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL) and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES) on Violence Against Women

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) meet for a trialogue with the Commission and the Council on Violence Against Women in the European Parliament during the plenary session in Strasbourg

Violence Against Women trialogue negotiations with the Council: arrival and roundtable

Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), and Evin INCIR (S&D, SE), Rapporteurs, hold a press conference on the Violence against women - update on the state of negotiations by the negotiators. This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Evin INCIR (S&D, SE) rapporteurs and other lead MEP's on the Violence against women - update on the state of negotiations by the negotiators

MEPs debate on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25). Plenary assesses the situation across the EU with Commission representatives. Parliament has repeatedly raised the issue of gender-based violence and is currently in negotiations with member states on draft EU legislation to tackle violence against women and domestic violence. Third part of the debate.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: MEPs debate (part 3)

MEPs debate on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25). Plenary assesses the situation across the EU with Commission representatives. Parliament has repeatedly raised the issue of gender-based violence and is currently in negotiations with member states on draft EU legislation to tackle violence against women and domestic violence. Closing statement by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: closing statement by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

MEPs debate on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25). Plenary assesses the situation across the EU with Commission representatives. Parliament has repeatedly raised the issue of gender-based violence and is currently in negotiations with member states on draft EU legislation to tackle violence against women and domestic violence. Second part of the debate.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25). Plenary assesses the situation across the EU with Commission representatives. Parliament has repeatedly raised the issue of gender-based violence and is currently in negotiations with member states on draft EU legislation to tackle violence against women and domestic violence.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25). Plenary assesses the situation across the EU with Commission representatives. Parliament has repeatedly raised the issue of gender-based violence and is currently in negotiations with member states on draft EU legislation to tackle violence against women and domestic violence. Opening statements by by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: opening statements by by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives an opening statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 Nov). This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Introductory remark by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 Nov)

During the trophy presentation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in August, president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips, which she has stated she did not consent to. Mr Rubiales subsequently refused to resign - he has since been suspended by FIFA (the international governing body of association football), which has launched an investigation into his conduct. After the final of the Women’s Football World Cup was marred by harassment, MEPs quiz the Commission on how to counter violence and discrimination in sports. Extracts from the debate

Violence and discrimination in the world of sports after the FIFA Women’s World Cup: extracts from the debate

During the trophy presentation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in August, president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips, which she has stated she did not consent to. Mr Rubiales subsequently refused to resign - he has since been suspended by FIFA (the international governing body of association football), which has launched an investigation into his conduct. After the final of the Women’s Football World Cup was marred by harassment, MEPs quiz the Commission on how to counter violence and discrimination in sports. Closing statement by Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms.

Violence and discrimination in the world of sports after the FIFA Women’s World Cup: closing statement by Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms

During the trophy presentation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in August, president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips, which she has stated she did not consent to. Mr Rubiales subsequently refused to resign - he has since been suspended by FIFA (the international governing body of association football), which has launched an investigation into his conduct. After the final of the Women’s Football World Cup was marred by harassment, MEPs quiz the Commission on how to counter violence and discrimination in sports.

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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

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