International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

More than 3,000 women are killed every year in Europe by partners or family members, while countless others suffer harm and harassment. Violence against women and girls is a threat to half of humanity, both online and offline. It affects all women and takes many forms, including physical, sexual or psychological violence, as well as economic abuse and exploitation.
One in three women in both the EU and globally has experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in her lifetime. At least two women per week are killed in the EU by a partner or family member. 32% of sexual harassment perpetrators in the EU come from the work environment.
Every year, on November 25, the EU celebrates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, thus strengthening its commitment to eliminating violence against women and girls in the EU and beyond, and calling for action in solidarity with victims and survivors.
The EU protects women and children from gender-based and domestic violence through legislation, practical measures, and financial support. In 2022, the Commission issued the first EU-level legislative proposal to combat violence against women and domestic violence. The proposal aims to ensure that the most serious forms of violence against women, such as rape, female genital mutilation, and online gender-based violence, including cyberstalking and non-consensual sharing of intimate images, are criminalized throughout the EU. The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence) in 2023 is another key milestone in eliminating violence against women.