Approximately 50 million, or 31 per cent of women in the European Union have experienced sexual or physical violence in their lifetime, according to a European study on gender-based violence. Such acts occur both at homes and in workplaces or public spaces and across various settings. A directive that is intended to address this issue is already in effect, but member states are to implement it by mid-2027.
As pointed out by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, no country or community is free from the problem of violence against women, and the situation is worsening. Inequalities are being exacerbated by crises related to conflict, climate and hunger, and sexual violence is being used as a weapon. Women are also being attacked online.
“One in three women has experienced some form of violence, whether it’s sexual or physical. In Poland, this scale is not smaller, as it affects up to 87 per cent of women who have experienced some form of harassment, and 37 per cent have encountered violence, whether physical or sexual. The scale is immense, the costs are enormous, not only those that are the most important, the health and life of women. In France, one woman dies every three days at the hands of a current or former partner, that’s also terrifying,” said Mirosława Nykiel, a Member of the European Parliament from the Civil Platform, in an interview with the Newseria Biznes information agency.
“Cases of violence against women are an everyday occurrence across many settings, beginning with the family environment. In the Sejm, we, as the Sports Commission, have frequently dealt with the problem of violence. The infamous story of the harassment of basketball players by a coach was a topic of the Sports Commission’s proceedings in the Polish parliament when I was an MP,” added Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak, a Member of the European Parliament from the Civil Platform.
According to the European study on gender-based violence, conducted from 2020 to 2024 by Eurostat, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), 31 per cent of women in the European Union have experienced physical or sexual violence or threats of this type. One in five women indicate that the perpetrator was a close person, for example, a partner or family member, and one in eight that it was someone outside of their inner circle. One in three women have dealt with sexual harassment at work, a percentage that rises to two-fifths among young women. At the same time, the study shows that only one in eight victims reported the mentioned crimes to the police. In the European study, Poland records some of the lowest results among all countries.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on the 25th of November, was an opportunity to discuss this issue. Members of the European Parliament called upon the European Commission during the debate to act, underlining the need to implement existing EU legislation. They also expressed opposition to actions threatening gender equality and women’s rights.
On 1st October 2023, the European Union became a party to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence, commonly known as the Istanbul Convention. In April 2024, the European Parliament approved the first ever EU regulations targeting violence against women and domestic violence broadly defined. According to the adopted timeline, member states are obliged to introduce necessary changes to their laws by 14th June 2027. The directive provides actions to prevent rapes and clarifies the meaning of consent. It prohibits female genital mutilation and forced marriages. The directive calls for stricter laws against cyber violence—disclosing private information online without permission will be prohibited, as well as sending obscene content. The new regulations prioritize the safety and well-being of victims, necessitating greater availability of shelters and healthcare.
PE President Roberta Metsola, opening the plenary session, emphasized the crucial significance of this act, but also indicated that the legislation must go further, strengthening the protection of women.
